The Cutlers - The Company Today

Hall\\'s Committee Report

HALL'S COMMITTEE REPORT

The main focus of the Hall’s Committee during the last twelve months has been overseeing the process to determine which organisation would hold the all important catering contract in the Cutlers’ Hall since it was felt that the time was right for the Company to go out to competitive tender. As the result of a detailed and thorough bidding process, the contract was awarded to Kudos, a company with an outstanding reputation and considerable experience of catering in premises such as ours. The venues they cater in, range from London, through Nottingham and up to Harrogate.

It would, however, be most remiss of me not to recognize the close relationship we have built up with Sodexo during the fourteen years that they have held the contract. They have enhanced the Hall in many ways over that time and advanced the reputation of the Cutlers’ Hall as the premier Hall of its kind in the Midlands and North of England, if not the South as well.

As well as this major project, the routine tasks of looking after the Hall have continued: the integrity of the building has been maintained with much minor but important work being done on the considerable number and variety of roofs; the Beadle’s flat has been made watertight after the ravages of last winter; the goods lift has been brought up to specification; the Master’s facilities have been refurbished courtesy of a generous donation from a recent Past Master.

In the months ahead the Hall’s Committee will be reviewing and updating the long term plan with maintenance and replacement work being put into a revised and rolling schedule. With a building such as the Cutlers’ Hall, no long term plans can be writ in tablets of stone since there will always be surprises around the corner, but it will give us an opportunity to plan and budget ahead, particularly in these economically difficult times.

In closing, I would express the thanks of the Halls Committee to Colonel George Kilburn and his small but dedicated team, without whom the Hall would not be in the excellent condition it is. This year I would also like to make special mention of Andrew Kyle, the consultant engaged to assist in the process of choosing the new caterers. His contribution was invaluable and as such should be recognized publically.

Christopher J Jewitt DL
Chairman