NEW MEMBERS & NEW PROJECTS
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It has been a huge pleasure to preside over my first Freedom Ceremony as Master Entrepreneur, and to welcome SEVEN new Freemen Entrepreneurs during February. It's the start of a busy year for Membership, and I shall be signing certificates at every opportunity!
Cutlers' Hall was a magnificent setting for this to take place, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.
For now, a huge welcome to Antoine, Tim, Michael, Ryan, Terry, Liraz, and Lynn! You can read more about them HERE
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The work of the Company to support entrepreneurship in the City of London and beyond has never been busier. The end of January saw a showcase for EASI. This is a real flagship programme through which we are supporting the Trust to deliver masterclasses, networking, funding, and support to early-stage businesses with a social or environmental purpose at their heart.
A packed crowd of entrepreneurs, Livery guests, and the EASI25 cohort came together to celebrate the successes of EASI and to look ahead to EASI26 - FOR WHICH APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!
Do you know a business innovating for good? Send them HERE for a shot at £10,000 of funding and a year of our unique support.
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The Livery is famed for fine dining, but the February Supper has its own special charm. The Supper that follows the February Court has a particularly cosy feeling. Mulled wine and fruit punch flowed before we settled down by candlelight in Cutlers' Hall for steak & kidney pie, apple crumble, and cheese & biscuits! The Supper sold out in record time, and I was delighted to see so many new faces around the table.
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A key component of our Scale-Up Capital programme this year is the unparalleled combination of resources and expertise here in the UK - and in the City of London in particular. This was echoed brilliantly by Sara Fardon, the Master Insurer (pictured), in her speech at the February Supper. Her long career in insurance gave her a superb insight into the readiness of her industry to support scaling businesses. You'll be able to read her speech in full on the website shortly.
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Cutlers' Hall by Candlelight (c) Jason Gutwin 2026
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The Scale-Up Capital programme is going from strength to strength with three key dates now confirmed in the diary, and a snazzy new logo.
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5th June - co-hosted by London Stock Exchange Group, this is the place to be to find investment for your business, and to find business for your investments! There will be a definite bias towards our own members, so please do get in touch with the Clerk and make the most of our home advantage.
9th September - a special defence and dual-use technology expo at Mansion House in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, where we are especially pleased to be showcasing our partners in the defence industry.
9th November - a Scottish regional event hosted by Scottish Financial Enterprise and NatWest/RBS in Edinburgh speaks to the truly national convening power we have. We'll be supported by ministers from the Scottish and Westminster governments, and special guests from London and across Scotland.
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I'm welcoming guest speakers Dame Julia Hoggett DBE (the Spring Lunch - 10th March), Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu (dinner at Wolfson College Cambridge - 9th May), and Blondel Cluff CBE (the Election Court Banquet - 1st July).
If you haven't booked in to these events, and want to use your Events Levy, please send Mary a quick email for more info.
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May 8th-10th - MASTER'S WEEKEND
As you will have seen from the interactive WCE calendar HERE, you and your guests have the opportunity to join me in Cambridge for a stellar few days in May. We'll be connecting with friends at the Judge Business School, and at the stunning Wolfson College, and heading out on excursions in and around the City. There's a serious piece of research work going on that needs some entrepreneurial thinking - it's bookable now!
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There's some homework to do ahead of the Master's Weekend, please look out for some dates for interactive online sessions with Martin Sjoorda and Florence, as they begin their action research ahead of the Weekend itself.
You can join these even if you're not available for the Weekend - all of your experience in business is essential to the success of this research.
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Dare, Create, Succeed!
Yours aye,
Alastair
Alderman Alastair King DL, Master Entrepreneur 2025-26
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