Installation Speech of New Master, Peter Cheese

As the current Master, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the fellowship and work of the Company of Human Resource Professionals. The Company was formed as a Guild in 2014 to represent our profession as part of the Modern Livery movement in the City of London and progressed to Company status in 2021. Having just celebrated our 11th anniversary, our programme of work to achieve full livery (“Worshipful Company”) status is well underway. This will be an exciting milestone for us and for the profession, and we look forward to playing our full part in the civic and livery traditions of the City.

As we honour our traditions, we can also be innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking in our approach to challenges that lie ahead. We are committed to supporting this years Lady Mayor, the first to hold this title although the third woman in the role, and the City of London, standing alongside the other professions to contribute to the growth and success of business and society as a whole. We already collaborate on pan-livery initiatives in areas such as increasing diversity, social impact, and supporting charitable and pro-bono work, and we look forward to increasing our positive influence as the people profession.

Livery companies celebrate a tradition that goes back over 800 years supporting trade, education, charity and fellowship, and working in the best interests of the community in which they operate. Tradition and social activity are an important part of the Company but not the reason it exists. Our purpose in coming together as a modern company is that we all believe in the importance of creating opportunities for people to perform and excel, for inclusiveness and belonging, and putting people first in the world of work.

As the Company for HR Professionals our key activities include:

• Charitable and pro-bono work with young people and those who are disadvantaged or under-represented in the workplace, and in supporting the Armed Forces Covenant
• Fellowship and professional support within the livery tradition and access to an extraordinary HR network
• Education and professional growth through apprenticeships, mentoring, the National Leadership Programme, and the NED programme to encourage more HR professionals to be part of boards
• Promoting our profession across the many professions, industries, and trades represented through the livery company network

We are also proud of our connections to the CIPD as the professional body and are developing shared programmes of support. I am delighted to hold the role of Master but also as the CEO of the CIPD, uniting together in supporting and promoting the people profession.

The Company warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds and stages of their career, and from all HR related sectors and functions. Please join us as a member or freeman and help us to build a stronger community. You can get involved as much as you wish in fellowship and your professional network, volunteering for pro-bono, mentoring, and development activities, participating in committees and the Court, and helping us grow the work and impact of the Company’s Charitable Trust. For details of our events, educational programmes, and charitable activities please have a look at our website. Please also feel welcome to contact our Clerk, Karen Fulton, on clerk@hrprofessionals.org.uk or me on master@hrprofessionals.org.uk.