The Cutlers - The Company Today

The Master Cutler\\'s Report, 2008-2009

THE MASTER CUTLER'S REPORT, 2008-2009

I feel very proud and honoured to have served as Master Cutler for the last 11 months and as the Company year draws to a close, it is a good time for reflection concerning the issues that really matter to us all.

Firstly, may I say that the Mistress Cutler and I have both thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the role. It has been a most rewarding and varied year and one which we shall look back on with much happiness.

There is no doubt that the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is held in very high esteem both in Hallamshire and beyond and as we have travelled outside the region, we have been royally received in the City of London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, York and Zurich. There have been many local engagements in the region and we have never failed to be impressed by the organisations we have visited. We have met many dedicated people who give freely of their time to needy and worthy causes; these unsung heroes are the backbone of a caring community and deserve continuing support and recognition.

This has been a very difficult year for the economy. It is especially the case for the businesses in our region, many of which have had to bear the brunt of unprecedented falls in demand and an increasingly challenging financial environment where credit availability has been difficult and costly. However, the Cutlers’ Company has been able to continue in its campaign to get broad recognition of the need to rebalance the economy more towards manufacturing. We have had the opportunity, at first hand, to get our points across to senior national politicians and other influential bodies such as the Bank of England and the City of London. The Company has the power to open these doors and to deliver our message and it seems that most serious minded people now agree with us. The big challenge from here on is to get into the implementation stage and really start the rebuilding of our manufacturing industries and to develop new ones in order to be well placed in the global economy. I believe that the Company is very well positioned to continue to influence this agenda and to make a major contribution to the delivery of this objective. We must carry on pursuing our aim in the knowledge that what needs to be done cannot be delivered overnight and will require a long term commitment from the “powers that be”.

Our positioning here in Hallamshire has hugely encouraged me. As I have said on numerous occasions, we understand that in today’s global economy we need businesses that have innovative products, good design, unique know how or other differentiating factors. We have two fine universities committed to help companies in Hallamshire and local politicians who will support our business agenda. I am therefore very optimistic for the future of our local manufacturing base but even so, there is an enormous amount to be done to secure our rightful position on the world market.

The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire has a unique position of influence headed by the Master. We have an excellent platform on which to build further and I hope that my contribution has helped moved us forward in the important work we do.