Meet the Court: Lizzie Shaw

Like other livery companies, we are governed by a board called the ‘Court’. Our Court is headed by the Master and includes two wardens, 15 assistants and several Past Masters of the Company.

The Court has the ultimate control over financial management, charitable activities, and the maintenance of our historic customs. Over the coming months we’ll be profiling some of our existing Court members to find out what they enjoy about being a member and a Court Assistant. This month it’s Lizzie Shaw, director of Celtheath, who has been a Court member since 2019.

What inspired you to join The Furniture Makers’ Company?

The desire to give something back to our industry and the opportunity to make a difference.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your membership?

The genuine friendship and the camaraderie with fellow members was an unexpected bonus. The more you engage the more rewarding all aspects of membership can be. Dinner at Mansion House is always very special and never fails to wow, but equally regional bowling nights and Big Shots are great fun and provide a relaxed environment to make some lasting connections.

What roles or positions have you held within the company, and what have you learned from them?

Since joining 10 years ago I have sat on many committees: events, membership and fundraising, which lead to me become chairman of the Southern Region committee. More recently I have become joint almoner, which is a really special role, providing a sensitive conduit for members during difficult times. Each role has provided me with invaluable experiences. Having spent most of my career at my family business, it has been a fascinating peek into a more corporate way of doing things, while providing me the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s legends with a philanthropic objective.

As a Court member, how do you contribute to the governance of the livery company?

Our Court meetings are often very lively with great engagement and debate on all aspects of governance. Being a Court member enables you to have an overview of the livery and challenge or support the wide variety of initiatives, new and old. It is not all big decisions or particularly serious matters, but the varied experience and skill set provided by the Court members means that little slips through the net, which is vital to the longevity and success of our livery and its goals.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Court?

Joining the Court is not a decision that should be made lightly. You need to be sure that you are in a position to dedicate some time and attention and take the responsibility seriously. By joining you really can make a difference to the future of our industry.

What does being a member of the Court entail?

By joining the Court, you are agreeing to attend and actively participate in four meetings a year – all of which are followed by either a lunch or dinner. We often admit new liverymen and corporate liverymen at the end of our meetings who are then invited to the lunch or dinner. This provides us with a great opportunity to welcome them and encourage them to engage as much as possible so that they start their journey with us. The Company is governed by a new Master every year and the route to becoming Master starts with joining the Court, a hugely rewarding experience and crucial to the running of a livery company.

How do you think we can encourage members to join the Court?

For those members who are already engaged and active in our livery the chance to step up and make their mark on the running of the livery with the potential to become Master at some point really should sell itself. I appreciate that not everyone wants to be Master so the fact that you can join the Court and sit for six years without having to take that step takes the pressure off.

As a member of the Court, what are your hopes for the future of the livery company?

In its relatively short existence, our livery company has achieved so much, a Royal Charter, the acquisition of a hall and a great reputation among the livery movement to name a few. I hope that we continue to push the limits and achieve the unachievable while providing our members with a community they can really feel part of. Our commitment to education and excellence is vital to the future of our industry, with the help of like-minded members, and our well established and respected platform we can continue to come up with innovative initiatives to encourage and support the next generation of furniture makers all while supporting those who need our help through welfare. With the right engagement there is so much more we can do, and I am delighted to be a small part of that.