Installation Speech of New Master, Nicola Auret

Wardens, My Lord, Alderman, Visiting Masters, Freemen, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an enormous honour and privilege to stand before you as the 10th Master of the Company of HR Professionals.

We celebrate our modern company this evening in a nearly 1000-year-old tradition. The original trade associations, Livery companies were founded to guarantee professional credentials and ensure that goods and services were of reputable quality. Essentially, they provided ‘fit and proper’ assurance – a certification process many of us as HR professionals in and beyond the City, know all too well, holding some responsibility for in ensuring good conduct, culture and stakeholder outcomes.

Last month, we celebrated our 10th anniversary. Founded on the Livery principles of fellowship, professional development and giving back, our purpose in coming together tonight is our shared belief in the importance of putting people first in the world of work – creating opportunities for performance and excellence, inclusiveness and belonging.

We do this in the belief that our membership should remain attractive, welcoming and open – ensuring we work in the best interests of the communities in which we operate.

Blending tradition with purpose in action, we take pride in actively participating in pan-Livery activities and supporting the Lord Mayor and the City of London.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Past Masters, Court and Wardens – Heather, Richard and Peter – for their ongoing support and faith in me assuming this role.

To Karen our Clerk, for her commitment and hard work both internally and externally to deliver our plan.

And to Stephen, our Immediate Past Master, for his vision, leadership and extraordinary ambassadorial efforts over the past year. You and Kate have given selflessly of your time as both hosts and in support roles to us all and your ongoing stewardship has been invaluable to me.

Thank you all.

So… we are 10 and our focus has been on purpose, growth and sustainability.

The Worshipful Company of Vintners has been doing its excellent work for more than 65 decades; we have just celebrated our first, with impact and pride:

• 10 years of professional fellowship has seen our membership of senior HR professionals grow to 230. The corporate conscience, culture, wellbeing and governance responsibilities of HR leaders today are complex and high stakes – and we cherish the safe professional space we have created, for collaboration and support. Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day and will highlight various aspects of mental health at work. As we champion cultures where people can contribute productively and thrive, so we in our network must be the difference, for and with each other, in Livery and beyond;
• 10 years of charitable and pro-bono work with young people and those disadvantaged or under-represented in the workplace. Every year, our Company’s Charitable Trust supports smaller charities with the provision of grants, and unsurprisingly we have seen a record number of applicants this year. We pride ourselves on issues impacting the world of work today – and we were pleased to support the work of Pro-Age this year, as their research explores the organisational reality and challenges of age discrimination and multi-generational workplaces. This year’s significant grants will reach up to 250 individual beneficiaries, who are the furthest from employability. These funded projects help with skills development and confidence-based activities to support a return to work. And once again, we supported the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, during the annual City Giving Day, with its focus on improving social mobility in the City;
• 10 years of development activity has seen us shape education and professional growth through apprenticeships, mentoring and learning programmes. Our National Leadership Programme focuses on developing the next generation of HR Leaders, with a unique masterclass design unmatched in its current content. In addition, we need to do more to ensure that strategic HR expertise are represented at both Executive and Board level across more businesses. We just this week delivered our 3rd annual Non-Executive Director Programme in association with NEDA – building vital People, Culture and ESG bench strength – and supporting those transitioning to portfolio careers;
• And finally, 10 years of our inter-livery work has included thought leadership on Inclusion and Diversity; the recent establishment of the Knowledge and Human Potential group in collaboration with some of the Masters we’re honoured to have here this evening; and our ongoing Armed Forces Covenant commitments.

And so we look to shape our future. A Company that continues to put giving back, growth and development, and meaningful fellowship at its heart.

Much like a new age wine from the vineyards of our immediate past master Stephen and the real farmers, Kate and Millie; let us take the best of our traditions and incorporate some of today’s human creativity, innovation and ideas to ensure we’re still here in 100 years, and beyond.

Current affairs and profound shifts in society and the world of work have brought a huge responsibility to our profession. We are well placed to help design the workplaces of future generations, enabling access to opportunity and upskilling for change.

We need to embrace progress and technology including a digital revolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning – while retaining the value of People. A blend of efficiency and creativity. Responsible, ethical business and global good work frameworks.

Our ambition to achieve Worshipful Company status is grounded in the belief that as we honour our traditions, we can also be innovative, inclusive, and ‘forward-thinking’ in our approach to challenges that lie ahead. That we can continue to support the Lord Mayor and City of London, standing firmly alongside other professions, to contribute to the growth and success of business and society as a whole. Sustainability with and through People.

Because there is nothing more powerful than humanity at work.

In closing, there are many ways to join me and the team in our common purpose to shape our future:

1. mixing fun and celebration with charitable purpose;
2. learning opportunities with thought leadership; and
3. court participation in good governance and strategy.

You can make a big difference to our grant resources through even small, regular contributions to the Company’s Charitable Trust.

And current partnerships with Dayforce and Evelyn Partners, along with generous donations from Lace Partners, have helped to fund investments in our infrastructure, support for the membership offering and growth in our scale and impact.

And current partnerships with Dayforce and Evelyn Partners, along with generous donations from Lace Partners, have helped to fund investments in our infrastructure, support for the membership offering and growth in our scale and impact.

It is once again an honour to serve the Company in this role and I am so excited for the year ahead.

Let’s be the difference. Get involved. Shape the Future.

Thank you all so much for coming this evening and I wish you a safe journey home.

Nicola Auret