The Worshipful Company of Masons

What The Worshipful Company of Masons does

The Worshipful Company of Masons is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London, operating as a private charitable guild established under a Grant of Arms from King Edward IV in 1472. It ranks number 30 in the formal order of precedence among the Livery Companies, a ranking set by the Aldermen of the City of London in 1515, and operates today within a system of over 110 Livery Companies. The Company's stated purpose is to preserve and encourage the use of natural stone in the built environment, which it pursues through the training of stonemasons, the maintenance of historic stone buildings, and the stewardship of an award and recognition ecosystem for the trade. Its core "technology" is the traditional craft of stonemasonry — shaping rough stone into accurate geometrical forms for buildings, structures, and sculpture — with no commercial product line; the only digital asset is the Masons' Marks Directory, a modest online catalogue of modern stonemasons' distinguishing marks.

The Company operates two charitable vehicles: the Masons' Company Craft Fund, which provides grants to apprentices and students pursuing City and Guilds qualifications, NVQ Level 3, or diplomas in stonemasonry and stone carving at approved training establishments, and the Masons' Company Charitable Trust, which donates to causes such as St Paul's Cathedral, heritage restoration projects, and the wider City of London community. Its commercial model is not commercial at all: revenue, which is not publicly disclosed, derives from membership contributions (Liverymen and Freemen), donations to the Craft Fund and Charitable Trust, and fundraising activities including an annual exhibition of stonemasonry and stone carving hosted at Gallery Different, the biennial Duke of Gloucester Awards (run jointly with the Stone Federation of Great Britain), the annual Masons' Journal publication, and ad hoc challenges such as The 280 Challenge. The Company has no paid product, no API, no app, and no AI capabilities.

The Company's beneficiary base is structurally diversified across nine Anglican cathedral stone-yards, at least six vocational training colleges (including the Building Crafts College, the City and Guilds of London Art School, and Moulton, Bath, Weymouth, and York Colleges), the cross-cathedral Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship (co-founded in 2009 and validated by the University of Gloucestershire, with King Charles III as Royal Patron since 2011), and approximately 23 stonemasons supported annually. It also maintains formal associations with military units, heritage museums such as Ironbridge Gorge and Weald and Downland, and participates in pan-Livery initiatives including the Construction Liveries Group and the Livery Schools Link (with 43 other Livery Companies). Operations are governed by a Court led by the Master, Senior Warden, Renter Warden, and Clerk, supported by a small staff of 8, and headquartered at Mercers' Hall in the City of London.

Name

The Worshipful Company of Masons

Legal name

The Worshipful Company of Masons

Website

https://masonslivery.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Worshipful Company of Masons is an ancient City of London Livery Company (established 1472) that preserves stonemasonry craft by funding apprenticeships, training grants, and awards for UK cathedrals, training colleges, and heritage projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association / Livery Guild Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Masonry (Brick, Block & Stone) (EDAOAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Stonemasonry training
• Livery company
• Craft preservation
• Charitable grants
• Apprenticeship support

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Worshipful Company of Masons is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London, ranked number 30 in the order of precedence, and functions as a charitable guild focused on preserving and encouraging the use of natural stone in the built environment. The Company supports the training, education, and welfare of stonemasons through grants, apprenticeship support, award programmes, and partnerships with training colleges and cathedral workshops, operating two charitable arms: the Masons' Company Craft Fund and the Masons' Company Charitable Trust.

Product overview

The Worshipful Company of Masons is a Livery Company of the City of London (number 30 in order of precedence, established 1472) focused on preserving and encouraging the use of natural stone in the built environment. Rather than a commercial product company, it offers a portfolio of charitable and educational services centered on stonemasonry: apprenticeship and training support programs (including the Masons' Company Apprentice Support Scheme and Craft Fund grants), award programs (Duke of Gloucester Awards and Master Craftsman Certificate Award Scheme), educational partnerships with colleges and the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship, an annual exhibition of stonemasonry and stone carving, and a digital Masons' Marks Directory archive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masons' Company Craft Fund

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cathedrals' Workshop FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Created in 2009 by nine UK Anglican Cathedrals (Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Lincoln, Lichfield, Salisbury, Westminster, Winchester, Worcester and York) to provide common programme of education and training progressing to Foundation degree level. The two-year work-based programme leads to 'CWF Foundation degree in Applied Historic Building Conservation and Repair' validated by University of Gloucestershire. His Majesty King Charles III has been Royal Patron since 2011. The Masons' Company has committed funds to support this enterprise from the outset.
• City and GuildscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Company is represented on the Council of City and Guilds, the leading body for vocational training worldwide. City and Guilds provides qualifications including NVQs in stonemasonry that the Company supports through its grant programs.
• City and Guilds of London Art SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA small, specialist Art School offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in contemporary fine art, historic carving in wood and stone, conservation of cultural artefacts. The Company works closely with this institution and supports students through education grants. Based in Kennington, South East London with 130 years of history.
• Building Crafts CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by the Carpenters' Company in 1893, the college teaches fine woodwork, stonemasonry and other associated skills connected with construction, conservation and restoration. Many students and apprentices supported by the Masons' Company attend this college. Located in Kennard Road, Stratford, East London.
• Stone Federation of Great BritaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organizer of the Duke of Gloucester Awards every two years with prizes in cash, tool vouchers and certificates of achievement. Also co-hosts Natural Stone Awards.
• Livery Schools LinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with 43 other Livery Companies to assist in raising aspirations of pupils from areas of deprivation across the UK in the field of general education.
• Moulton CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthampton college where the Company supports a number of stonemasonry students through education grants.
• Bath CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege where the Company supports stonemasonry students through education grants.
• York CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege where the Company supports stonemasonry students through education grants.
• Weymouth CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege supported by the Company for stonemasonry students as part of approved college network.
• Gallery DifferentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContemporary fine art gallery in London (14 Percy Street, Fitzrovia) that hosts the Company's Annual Exhibition of Stonemasonry and Stone Carving. The gallery waives commission on sales, passing proceeds to the Craft Fund.
• Ironbridge Gorge MuseumsminorOthersMuseum association listed under the Company's associations page.
• Weald and Downland Living MuseumminorOthersLiving museum focused on historic buildings and traditional crafts, listed under the Company's associations.
• HMS PortlandminorOthersRoyal Navy vessel listed under the Company's military associations.
• 36 Engineer RegimentminorOthersArmy regiment with engineering connection to stonemasonry, listed under the Company's associations.
• Royal Regiment of ScotlandminorOthersMilitary regiment listed under the Company's associations.
• 14 Squadron RAFminorOthersRoyal Air Force squadron listed under the Company's associations.
• 15 Company SW London ACFminorOthersArmy Cadet Force unit listed under the Company's associations.
• Construction Liveries GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Livery Companies in the construction sector, listed under the Company's associations.
• St Paul's CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Company's Charitable Trust has supported St Paul's Cathedral for many years with annual donations towards general running expenses. A grant of £10,000 was given to support the new wheelchair-accessible entrance project, constructed in stone with the intention of engaging apprentices.
• University of GloucestershirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValidates the CWF Foundation degree in Applied Historic Building Conservation and Repair offered through the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Historic Royal Palaces: Independent charity managing unoccupied royal palaces. Operates in-house craft teams including stonemasons for conservation, paralleling the Company's mission to keep the craft alive and well-funded.
• City & Guilds: Leading UK vocational qualification body. The Company holds a seat on its Council and aligns grant support with its NVQ framework — a much larger incumbent that defines the standards the Company's training ecosystem follows.
• Historic England: Public body that protects and promotes England's historic environment. Comparable as a heritage-preservation stakeholder with overlapping interest in stone building conservation and craft skills.
• The National Trust: Major UK heritage charity conserving historic buildings and landscapes. Comparable as a large charitable organization investing in traditional building crafts and stone conservation across many heritage sites.

Direct peers

• Stone Federation of Great Britain: The UK's national trade association for the natural stone industry. Direct partner and joint organizer of the Duke of Gloucester Awards; comparable as a sector-body promoting stone use, training, and standards.
• City and Guilds of London Art School: Specialist art school offering historic carving in wood and stone and conservation programs. Core training partner; the Company supports students there through education grants.
• Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship: Consortium of UK cathedral workshops delivering structured stonemasonry and conservation training. The Masons' Company has funded this from inception; it is the principal vehicle through which the Company's training impact is delivered.
• Building Crafts College: Specialist vocational college in East London teaching stonemasonry, fine woodwork, and conservation. Established by the Carpenters' Company in 1893; the Masons' Company channels grants to many of its students.
• The Worshipful Company of Carpenters: Another ancient Livery Company of the City of London, historically associated with the building crafts. Highly comparable as a parallel guild structure supporting vocational training, charitable giving, and heritage preservation in a related construction craft.

Others

• Construction Liveries Group: Coalition of Livery Companies in the construction sector listed as a Company association. Comparable as a coordinating forum for construction-focused Livery guilds working on shared charitable and training objectives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-worshipful-company-of-masons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Worshipful Company of Masons