Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs
The Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs is a Livery Company of the City of London. It petitioned the Court of Aldermen for Guild status in 2014 became a Company without Livery in October 2020, and achieved the ambition to become a full Livery Company in February 2025. It is a membership and charitable organisation formed of men and women connected with the City of London who have invested their own time and financial resources in establishing and running successful businesses and enterprises. Its motto is Dare, Create, Succeed
The Company of Entrepreneurs Trust is a charity that was registered in England & Wales in 2016. It is a grant-making body, which principally supports business education.
Formation and early history
Dan Doherty, had already founded and was running a successful informal group for Entrepreneurs called “Entrepreneurs – City of London Network”. The membership of this group included a number of liverymen of the city’s Livery Companies, and from amongst them and others, the Founding Committee of the proposed Guild was drawn. With assistance from the Chamberlain’s Court and from Adèle Thorpe, a proposal document was drawn up and delivered to the Court of Aldermen. It was accompanied by numerous letters of support from amongst the City Livery Companies, academic institutions and businesses. Approval was given for the formation of the new Guild on 8 July 2014.Formal working party meetings were held in August and September 2014 to approve the rules and suggested governance of the Guild, and, on 8 September 2014, the Guild’s first Court Meeting was held at the Old Bailey.
On 24 November 2014 the Guild had its official launch at Ironmongers’ Hall. The event was attended by the then Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, Masters and Clerks representing over half of the city’s 110 Livery Companies, as well as numerous guests.
The company has a wide range of Outreach & Educational projects in which Freeman undertake mentoring for students of business and entrepreneurship as well as fledgling businesses and entrepreneurial activities. The Company of Entrepreneurs Trust is a charitable foundation set up in 2016, but operating independently. Its primary objective is to raise and distribute money to support education and charity relating to entrepreneurship.
Objectives
The objectives of the company are to:- promote excellence in the profession of Entrepreneurship;
- support the Lord Mayor, encourage the growth of the city and promote its full potential to entrepreneurs and growth businesses;
- foster fellowship among entrepreneurs;
- give money and time for charitable works that support education in enterprise; the development of entrepreneurs; and help to bring the opportunities of entrepreneurship to all.