Sheffield – it’s all in a title
Around 80 requests a year are made to the Master Cutler Company for businesses to include ‘Sheffield’ in their company name.
Sheffield is one of only two cities in the UK which requires the secretary of state for business to approve the use of the word Sheffield in a business name or title.
The Cutlers’ Company, a 400-year-old company which represents the manufacturing sector of the region, still controls the ‘Sheffield’ Certification Mark (CM) and acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business in the approval of the use of the word ’Sheffield’ in any business name or title.
The Master Cutler company said: “Sheffield has long been synonymous with quality and therefore subject to attention by counterfeiters. This protection is still required and the Company is periodically engaged in actions to prevent abusive use of the name Sheffield.”
Recently, Boeing was successful in gaining a non-objection letter of approval. However, five businesses from outside of the city were rejected because while they had an arm of the business opening in Sheffield, main operations remained outside.
Current Master Cutler Richard Edwards said it was an honour to see international firm Boeing Sheffield take on the city’s name and that this was granted because a good size of their operation would be based in Sheffield.
The Company of Cutlers is instrumental in keeping traditions alive in the Sheffield City Region. Along with Sheffield City Council and the Chamber of Commerce, the Master Cutlers company run the Made in Sheffield mark.
Launched in 2005 the group now has more than 200 licence holders. It is in demand as a sign of quality which adds value to products.
The organisation has so far this year withheld approval for five companies to use the Sheffield name: BRR Sheffield LLP, Sheffield Fusion Central, Sheffield Hatter Beer Co, Sheffield House and We Fix Feet (Sheffield).
So far this year, the approval has been given to 77 businesses including Boeing Sheffield, Escape Rooms Sheffield , Forge Sheffield, New York Pizza Deli (Sheffield), Remember When Sheffield , Sheffield Brewers Collective, Sheffield Distillery, Umove Sheffield, The Italian Kitchen (Sheffield), The Famous Sheffield Shop, Sheffield Telecom, Sheffield Money, Sheffield Logs, Sheffield Juice Press, Sheffield Institute of Technology and , Sheffield Institute of Advanced Technology.
