Page 20 - A4 Journal 2019

The Company

This is excellent progress and shines a spotlight on the ability of the Worshipful Company of Constructors to build a diverse
and inclusive membership, not just for the benefit of our Company but in order to lead this exciting change across the
construction sector and the wider City of London.”

The Worshipful Company of Constructors desires to reflect the diversity of our industry within and throughout the Company
and would welcome any contributions or offers of help to the Membership Committee, particularly from younger members
and those who feel they might represent a minority within the Company. If you would like to contribute to this workstream, or
have something to offer as a member of the relevant sub-committee then please let the Chair of the Membership Committee
know by email at michael.rigden@breakthroughuk.com.”

Robert (Bob) Heathfield

Bob Heathfield has recently handed over chairmanship of the Worshipful Company Scholarship and
Awards Committee to Liveryman and Court Assistant Dr Deborah Pullen. We are deeply indebted to
Bob for the many years of service he has given to the Company and the Master is now looking to Bob
to play a significant role in ensuring that all members are briefed on the mission and purpose of the
Livery and the Company.
Bob is a Past President of the Chartered Institute of Building and he was admitted as a Freeman of
the Constructors in 2002 and became a Liveryman in 2003. He became Chairman of our Scholar-
ships & Awards Committee in 2005, and was elected a Court Assistant in 2006, becoming an Honor-
ary Court Assistant in 2010. In 2016 he was nominated for the City Livery Club “Root and Branch”
award and was “highly commended” by the award committee.
Bob developed and refined the process by which the Company manages its scholarships’ process and has directed the whole
process from start to finish, including liaising closely with employers, and various professional institutions. He has also com-
bined his management of the Company’s programme of scholarships with chairmanship of our Scholarships & Awards Com-
mittee which, in addition to the scholarships, deals with two university prizes, our Royal Charter International Research Award,
our Royal Charter Award for Excellence in Construction, and our Masters Certificate Scheme.
In recognition of Bob’s considerable contribution to our scholarships he was awarded Honorary Court Assistant in 2010 and,
at Common Hall in 2019, he was awarded the Master’s Certificate, an award that was enthusiastically applauded by the audi-
ence.

Bob has devoted an enormous amount of time, energy and professional expertise to his role within the Company, and this is
evidenced by the excellent results which are achieved on a consistent basis.

Bob’s close involvement and management of our programme of scholarships over the past fifteen years, has resulted in the
number of young professionals benefitting from the scholarship experience each year growing from one up to eight, and dur-
ing Bob’s Chairmanship of the Committee over 50 Scholars have progressed through our Scholarship programme.
The results of the scholars’ research are now routinely published by professional institutions and other interested bodies, as
hard copy and electronically, and as articles and papers in a variety of journals and magazines. The scholars themselves have
gained greatly on a personal level from the experience of a Worshipful Company of Constructors’ scholarship through in-
creased confidence and improved presentational ability. Many of them also support the on-going scholarships programme,
and have become involved in mentoring other scholars.

Ruth Wilkinson

Ruth was admitted as a Freeman on 4 July 2019. She writes:
“I confess that I had only a vague knowledge of livery companies and had not heard of the
Constructors until I sat next to John Rowsell at the Society of Construction Law lunch in February
2019. However, I have since set about trying to put that to rights and feel tremendously honoured
and privileged to have joined the Company in July 2019. I have been made very welcome indeed.

I have been a construction lawyer since 2006 working in London and now in Reading as well, at
Clarkslegal LLP, advising clients on construction contracts and disputes. Both my father and
husband are engineers and they encouraged me to try construction as a seat during my training
contract – suffice to say I loved it and have never looked back. I find the process of building and

Page 20 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2019