The Cutlers

The Company Today

The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is made up of around 450 Freemen who qualify for Freedom as being a director or senior executive of a relevant organisation; engaged in the production of, or research in support of, manufactured items; within our defined geographical area.

The Company of Cutlers is governed by an elected Master, two Wardens, six Searchers and twenty four Assistants and is a permanent body (referred to as ‘The Company’) which is ‘formed’ at the new Master Cutler’s Installation on the first Tuesday of October, the new Master and Wardens having been previously elected on the first Monday of September.

The Master, Wardens, Searchers and Assistants act as chairman and a board of directors, meeting as a whole, or at various committee levels, to decide and oversee Company affairs. Assisting them is a small permanent staff headed by the Clerk, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of Company business.

As the face of industry in the Hallamshire region has changed so, of course, has the Company but it still strives, as it has done since 1624, to promote and support local manufacturing industry with the Master Cutler acting as its ‘Ambassador’.

Most recently, the Company is one of the organisations leading the development of an active and progressive Manufacturing Forum, which is chaired by the Master Cutler, with an initial focus on innovation, education and skills.