Classes of Membership

Freemen

Freemen are those who have been granted Freedom of the Company. For further information on becoming a Freeman, see How to Apply.

Liverymen

Liverymen are those who have been granted Freedom of the Company and the Freedom of the City of London, and who have also been 'clothed in the Livery' in a short ceremony at one of the quarterly Court Meetings. For further information on becoming a Liveryman, see How to Apply.

Honorary Liverymen and Freemen

The Company has been privileged, over the years since its formation, to have established close links with some who, whilst not members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators have, nevertheless, held positions of considerable standing in relevant areas of endeavour.

The Court may, in its absolute discretion and, if appropriate, without requiring compliance with the normal qualification for admission:-

• Admit to Freedom of the Company any person who holds, or has held, high office or rank in public, military, or civic office, or in commerce.
• Admit to the Livery of the Company any person who has demonstrated particular association with the Company, and is a person already a Freeman of the City and a Liveryman of another Company.

There are currently three Honorary Liverymen:-

• Mr George Challis CBE FCIS, former Clerk to the Company
• The Rt Hon The Lord Fellowes GCB GCVO QSO, a former Private Secretary to HM The Queen
• Sir Alexander Graham GBE DCL HP FCII FCIS, a former Lord Mayor of London.

There are currently five Honorary Freemen:-

• Three Honorary Freemen (ex officio) are the Heads of the Administrative Branches of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force
• The Lord Wilson of Dinton GCB, a former Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service
• Mrs Sandra Tyre, Hon. Assistant Clerk for the first 20 years of the Company's existence.

Apprentices

A more recent development is that the Company now has an Apprenticeship Scheme in place. This provides, in each year, for up to 6 young persons then between the ages of 18 and 29 to each be apprenticed to a senior Liveryman, known as the Master of the Apprentice.

The Apprenticeship will span a minimum of four and maximum of seven years. There is a separate scale of Fines and Fees. For further information on becoming an Apprentice, see the Apprenticeship Scheme section.