The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) recently exhibited at the City Livery Schools Link conference to help raise the profile of the industry to young students. It was held at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall with 29 Livery companies supporting the event.
The Livery Schools Link is a volunteer organisation supporting education. It organises events for schools and offers volunteering opportunities for members of the City Livery Companies. Young students between the ages of 14 and 17 attended to find out more about the range of career opportunities in the trades, industries and professions the Livery Companies represent. The WCoBM stand was attended by the Master Gill Moore, Clerk Tim Statham, Liveryman Andrew Pine and the Almoner Andrew Adams.
The exhibition was an ideal opportunity to talk to students about job opportunities in builders’ merchanting or with a supplier of building materials. The Company also produced some practical, fun and popular giveaways such as Oyster card wallets and also bright yellow rulers which were originally produced for the Lord Mayor’s Show and featured the tagline: Builders’ Merchants: Supplying Britain’s Building Needs
Liveryman Andrew Pine said: “We were very pleased with how the day went given that it was our first time. It’s important to have material which actively engages and involves the students when they visit your stand. Our Oyster card holders were particularly popular! And our pull-up stand attracted attention with the glamour of the London Skyline. What became apparent very quickly though is how little students knew about our trade, including teachers and career officers. The event emphasised the importance of taking part in the Livery Schools Link and in doing more to raise the profile of our industry to young individuals and their teachers.
“We work in a dynamic industry with lots of career opportunities but many students are unaware of the possibilities of working in a builders’ merchant or with a supplier,” Andrew continued. “We enlightened one teacher who then brought her students to the stand. One expressed an interest in becoming a tradesman, and the teacher was able to explain how working for a builders’ merchant would still allow him to engage with the trade and products in different ways.”
For more information visit www.wcobm.co.uk or follow @WCoBM
Pictured: WCoBM Master Gill Moore and Liveryman Andrew Pine talk to students about a career in the builders’ merchanting sector.
