Lady Mayor's Livery Craft Apprenticeship Award

The Lady Mayor - Dame Susan's East End origins and career trajectory from school leaver to DBE embody the proposition that the City can be a place of opportunity for those without privileged starting points.

The Apprenticeship Award makes that proposition tangible. It creates a visible pathway, announced by the Lady Mayor, delivered through the Livery network, culminating in a Mansion House ceremony, that connects young people to skilled trades and City careers.

The Aim:

The risk is that the announcement remains symbolic. Announcements without operational depth produce cynicism, not opportunity. This recipe aims to ensure the Award generates real apprenticeships, not just certificates.

The partnership with London Crafts Week provides content and credibility; the Livery network provides placements and mentorship; the tracking mechanism provides evidence of impact. For UnSquaring the Square Mile, apprenticeships are the antithesis of the City's opaque, networked recruitment culture.

They are transparent, merit-based, and accessible. The Award, properly executed, demonstrates that the City's oldest institutions — the Livery companies — can be instruments of social mobility rather than barriers to it.

Strategic Alignment

Lining up with the wall and the shortlist spreadsheet:

INITIATIVE RECIPE:

Lady Mayor's Livery Craft Apprenticeship Award

Initiative Name

Lady Mayor's Livery Craft Apprenticeship Award

Current State

Assets:

  • Initiative announced by Lady Mayor

  • London Crafts Week team available for content partnership ("doing a lot in the city")

  • 112 Livery companies with apprenticeship and education activities

  • Livery companies hold ~£5bn assets with charitable/skills remit (Modern Mayoralty document)

  • Destination City review identifies hospitality skills development as priority (para 12.6)

Problems:

  • Unknown: current operational status and delivery model

  • Unknown: how many schools, students, and employers are aware

  • Unknown: how many apprenticeships have been created or filled

  • No evident KPI framework

  • No tracking mechanism for applications or outcomes

  • Risk of announcement without operational depth

What Others Must Deliver

Programme Coordinator Role (To be assigned)

Mandate: Operationalise the Lady Mayor's Livery Craft Apprenticeship Award for measurable impact.

Decisions Required

From Lady Mayor:

  1. Confirm attendance at Award ceremony (Mansion House, end of term)

  2. Confirm attendance at one London Crafts Week event

  3. Approve KPI framework once baselines established

  4. Sign outreach letters to Head Teachers and Livery Masters

From Programme Coordinator (to be identified):

  1. Accept accountability for audit and deliverables

  2. Confirm capacity and timeline

From Livery Committee / Participating Liveries:

  1. Confirm which companies will participate

  2. Confirm apprenticeship places available

  3. Agree coordination model

From London Crafts Week:

  1. Confirm partnership scope

  2. Align calendar and promotional plan

From Employers:

  1. Register apprenticeship places

  2. Commit to Award recognition for participants