The Worshipful Company of Human Resource Professionals is a modern Livery Company, founded as a Guild in 2015 and granted full Livery Company status in February 2026. We bring together experienced leaders, specialists and practitioners from across the HR community. Our aim is to support and promote Human Capital Management activities and contribute to the City of London Corporation and wider Livery community.
We operate under 4 guiding pillars Fellowship, Development, Giving Back and Livery Tradition
- Fellowship – We have created a strong community of HR Leaders who engage socially and professionally at a wide range of events and functions
- Development – We are nurturing great HR Leaders through our development and mentoring programmes such as apprenticeships and the National Leadership Programme as well as supporting our members with advice and guidance from our membership network and Masterclasses
- Giving Back – Through two distinctly different channels, firstly we distribute our Charitable Foundation to HR related good causes which we grow through sponsorship, donations and events. Secondly, we provide Pro Bono support to smaller charities and organisations to help put people first in the world of work
- Livery Tradition - The Company plays an active part in the Livery community and embraces its traditions and history: members can experience the Livery camaraderie, as well as supporting the Civic City and the Lord Mayor of London and their Charity work
We appreciate excellence in our profession with annual HR Awards and in keeping with our Military affiliations one of these is our Military Award recognising excellence in HR in the Armed Forces.
The Worshipful Company of HR Professionals is the newest of all the City of London Livery Companies having achieved full Livery status on 3 February 2026 and becoming number 114 in the Order of Precedence.
Liveries are the ancient guilds, created to maintain standards within a particular trade or profession and many Companies can trace their history back to the 12th century. As times have changed so have the types of industries and professions seeking to become a Livery Company. In 1517 The Worshipful Company of Carmen was established, and at number 77 is deemed to be the last of the ancient Companies.
It took over 400 years for another profession to seek to be recognised as a Livery Company in the City, as the Master Mariners sought permission from the Court of Aldermen to form as a Guild and permission was granted in 1926, 100 years ago this year. The Master Mariners are regarded as the Father of the Modern Companies and we are delighted to have become the newest of the Modern Livery Companies, showing there is still a place for Livery Companies to maintain traditions of charitable works, fellowship, professional growth and promoting the profession within a very modern world.
In line with other Livery Companies when a Freeman becomes a Liveryman, the candidate is said to be 'enclothed': a gown is placed on them at the Court ceremony. A truly first and historical event in a Company's history. The HR Company’s first ceremony took place on 29th April 2026 in Vintners' Hall.
Becoming a Liveryman of a Company is a special moment and one to be savoured and remembered. To become a Liveryman, you must first become a Freeman of the Company and a Freeman of the City of London before you can petition to become a Liveryman. Becoming a liveryman recognises your good standing within our industry and your commitment to giving back to the profession and allows the individual the opportunity to vote in the elections of the City Sheriffs and Lord/Lady Mayor. It comes with rights and obligations, most notably to support the Company’s charitable endeavours and to support the City of London. Being part of a Livery Company is a commitment that will last long after you leave your current job or company. It is a personal commitment to the profession.
The Master, Peter Cheese, said after the Ceremony, “This is a very historic and symbolic moment for our Company, having achieved the goal of becoming a full Livery Company in February 2026, this is the next step as we clothe our first Liverymen. This is an honour and something that will be recognised long in to the future, and another sign of the important position of our profession in the life of the City and beyond.”
