Let me, as Master, give you a very warm welcome to the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers. The Company distributes significant charitable funding each year in support of scientific and technical education, while also fostering good fellowship amongst its members. I am delighted that you are visiting our website.
For those who are already members of the Company, I hope that you find membership rewarding, interesting and enjoyable.
For those thinking of joining us, I urge you contact us via our Clerk, Misha Hebel. Our Company benefits from accepting new members who bring additional talents and experiences as we strive to support young people pursuing STEM subjects at school and university and expand our network of support as they start their careers. We are becoming a more diverse group and are welcoming members from across a range of backgrounds and technical disciplines and we look forward to hearing from you.
Our membership is made up of people who make or use scientific instruments in the broadest sense. Our membership includes ~160 Apprentices and young Freemen, and ~200 Liverymen. This latter group comes from academia and commerce in about a 40:60 ratio.
Our Livery has three important aims:
The first is the work of our Charity. We award grants and scholarships to selected students to support them with their studies. This includes sixth formers, undergraduates at college and university as well as those doing post-graduate research. We also support organisations such as In2science who secure work experience for school students who are studying STEM subjects.
The second is in line with our motto: “Moving forwards – giving back”. Many of our Liverymen and Freeman enjoy supporting our Apprentices and Freemen who are moving forward in education and early careers. This can range from helping during the Apprentice years as Apprentice Masters, to linking with Freemen during their careers with technical and commercial help. Our members also provide support to local schools with mentoring and prize giving.
The third is social. The Livery is a welcoming and sociable community of people with a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds. We have a number of formal and informal dinners in our Hall with its wonderful view overlooking the Thames and an annual banquet usually at another Livery Company Hall. We hold webinars on a range of interesting topics, and technical visits to some fascinating businesses and laboratories and an annual SIMposium featuring a topic of current interest.
Whilst London based, we have active regional hubs where ‘out of Town’ members meet for informal social gatherings. We also operate Special Interest Groups (‘SIGs’) where members with common technical interests can network to discuss their mutual challenges.
Although a ‘modern’ Livery Company, we enjoy and celebrate the traditions that derive from our special relationship with the City of London and which provide the foundation for the work that we do.
I am honoured to serve the Company as Master, to be working with friends as we pursue our aims and objectives and to be welcoming the new members who join us.
Jim Webster
Master 2024-2025