Welcome to The Leathersellers’ Company

We support people, communities, and the UK leather industry through charitable giving and education.

The Company, The City & The Livery

The Leathersellers’ Company is made up of 150 liverymen (senior members) and a variable number of freemen (entry level member). The Company is governed by an elected Master (Chairman-equivalent) and three Wardens, and the Court of Assistants (the Board), which is a permanent body comprised of Liverymen who have served as Master (Pastmasters) and those who have not (Assistants). The Company elects a new Master and Wardens each summer.

The Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants act as a chairman and board of directors, meeting once a month to decide policy and oversee Company affairs. Assisting them is a small permanent staff headed by the Clerk (CEO-equivalent), who is responsible for the day-to-day management of Company business.

Education & Support For Students

The Leathersellers’ Company has been supporting education at all levels since the 17th century. As well as offering grants for university students and directly funding a number of universities, we are involved with the running of secondary and primary schools in south London. These are Colfe’s School and The Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools which consists of:

  • Prendergast School
  • Prendergast Sixth Form College
  • Prendergast Ladywell School
  • Prendergast Primary School
  • Prendergast Vale School

Charitable Fund

The welfare of its members was one of the original functions of any Livery Company. Members paid a fee called quarterage which was used to support those too ill or infirm to work, or to pay for funerals. Livery Companies were also seen as reliable bodies to act as trustees for more general charitable bequests.

Today, the Leathersellers’ Company administers a number of ancient trusts and also has its own Charitable Fund. By these means the Company provides:

Charitable Grants to a wide range of charities and educational establishments

Educational Awards to UK students taking a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a UK University

Through the Leathersellers’ Barnet Almshouses the Company also provides sheltered housing for the elderly.

The Leather Industry

The Leathersellers’ Company remains actively involved with the British leather industry, providing funding for technical education, research, and the conservation and display of historic leather items, and supplying representatives to sit on the boards of various industry bodies.

The role of the UK Leather Federation (formerly the British Leather Confederation) is to represent and promote the interests of the UK leather-producing industry and all those who support, supply or use the output of the UK leather industry in their activities.