The Company of Entrepreneurs Trust (England & Wales number 1166513) was established in 2016. The Trust focusses on financing charities, individuals, and projects that support business education, encourage and facilitate the development of entrepreneurs, and help to bring the opportunities of entrepreneurship to all.

Entrepreneurship can, and does, make a positive difference to the lives of
individuals, communities and society. Small & medium-sized enterprises
account for over half of all private sector employment in the UK, and, with the
help of its donors, supporters, and friends, the Company of Entrepreneurs Trust is supporting the education and skills of those who will become the UK’s future wealth creators and employers. 

The culmination of the annual cycle of grant-making is a formal presentation to beneficiaries, and, on Wednesday 10th July, 2024, Mr Gary Dixon, the Chairman of the Trustee Board, was delighted to welcome the two 2024 beneficiaries at a special ceremony at Tallow Chandlers’ Hall in the City of London.

Hatch Enterprise is a charity (1161801) that supports underrepresented entrepreneurs to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to launch and grow a business. Since 2014, Hatch has supported close to 8,000 founders, through community events, mentoring, and in-depth programmes such as Hatch Launchpads, Incubators and Accelerators, on their journey to build sustainable, impactful businesses.

The impact of the Trust’s 2023 grant was highly impressive, and the Trust is pleased to be supporting Hatch for a second consecutive year with a grant of £2,500 which will go towards the delivery of its mentoring programmes – including vital administration, and infrastructure.

Founder Dirk Bischoff, along with Head of Partnerships Deryl Thatcher, spoke of their delight at the support of the Company of Entrepreneurs Trust, which is leveraging the skills and experience of Freemen of the Company of Entrepreneurs in support of Hatch’s mentoring and accelerator projects.

No Going Back is a prisoner rehabilitation charity (1205792) that was founded in 2020 as a groundbreaking Livery Companies collaboration to reduce reoffending. No Going Back supports people through their journey in prison, preparing them for release and for the wide range of job opportunities the programme has on offer.

4 years on, the programme has had 40 participating Livey Companies, over 160 volunteers and nearly 2000 participants that have in some way benefited along their rehabilitation journey.
It receives a grant of £2,400 to develop its self-employment and enterprise
education programme.

CEO Fran Findlater was delighted to accept the grant on behalf of No Going Back. She spoke animatedly of the power of the collective efforts of the City of London’s Livery Companies, and the many Livery and other charities that were supporting the impactful work of No Going Back.

The Company of Entrepreneurs Trust will shortly be recognised as a partner for 2024, leading on enterprise and self-employment as a route out of reoffending.

Mr Dixon praised the quality of the 2024 beneficiaries, cited the positive reporting of 2023’s awards, and looked forward with enormous anticipation to the widening of the Trust’s grantmaking into 2025. He also recognised the key support of the Trust’s Patrons, Judith Donovan CBE, the Drapers’ Company, Adèle Thorpe, Rita W. Bologna, Jat Wasu, Bernard Howard, and Pinky Lilani CBE DL.

NOTES: to apply for 2025 funding (up to £5,000 to support business education and enterprise skills), charities, individuals, and organisations should write to the Company of Entrepreneurs’ Trust, Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2DQ, or email clerk@entrepreneurscompany.org