today the companies act mainly as social and charitable groups, because over the centuries the livery companies have lost most rights to control trade, often as statute law applied the same standards across the whole country. some support schools which were set up in the 1500s. others sponsor apprentices in colleges and unversities. some still have a statutory role. for example the goldsmiths' company continue to run the london assay office where several million articles of gold, silver and platinum are hallmarked each year.