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Inspire, Improve, Achieve, Trust

Helping people, organisations and economies develop their skills for growth

For over 140 years we have worked with people, organisations and economies to help them identify and develop the skills they need to thrive. We understand the life changing link between skills development, social mobility, prosperity and success.

We partner with our customers to deliver work-based learning programmes that build competency, to support better prospects for people, organisations and wider society. We create flexible learning pathways that support lifelong employability, because we believe that people deserve the opportunity to (re)train and (re)learn again and again – gaining new skills at every stage of life, regardless of where they start.

We’re a Royal Chartered Institute and a registered charity, everything we do is charitable. We invest our surplus into expanding and enhancing our solutions across all of our brands, to meet the changing needs of organisations and industries. And through our City & Guilds Foundation we amplify our purpose by focusing on high impact social investment, recognition and advocacy programmes which remove barriers to getting a job, celebrate best practice on the job and advocate for jobs of the future.

Find out more about the Foundation

City & Guilds businesses diagram

Working with us

As a leader in global skills development, we work with governments, organisations and education centres to provide work-based learning programmes in industries and sectors which offer the strongest prospects for jobs and growth.

Through our industry relationships and independent research we’re able to anticipate future skills needs that help to define occupational standards and best in class qualifications and training programmes. These are delivered in our own training centres, through our education centre partners, and in organisational work-places. They are quality assured and assessed by us and our awarding organisation partners.

We work with governments, organisations and industries to help shape future skills needs. We train teams in technical, behavioural and commercial skills, assure learning, assess cohorts and certify with digital credentials.                                                                                                                      

See how our solutions help to build skilled and compliant workforces

As well as delivering our own training, we work with over 10,000 training providers and further education institutes globally to help them develop the skills that learners and employers need. We set the skills standard and assess and certify with digital credentials.                                                  

See our qualifications, flexible learning options and support

We inspire and support people to progress into the job, on the job and onto the next job by developing their skills at every step of their career journey. We recognise and celebrate achievement, helping people to make their skills visible and to support social mobility, prosperity and success.

See what qualifications you need and what opportunities are waiting for you

Our specialisms

  • Consultancy: Learning & Development (L&D), Talent Management, Training & Skills Development, Compliance
  • Apprenticeships
  • Technical & vocational qualifications
  • T Levels
  • Licence to practice and certificates of competence
  • Recognition services
  • Digital learning platforms, programmes and tailored content development
  • Leadership & Management qualifications, training & development, coaching
  • Strategic partnerships and joint ventures with governments and organisations that share our commitment to helping businesses and economies grow through skills.

Learn more about our specialisms through our community of brands

City & Guilds

Home of our renowned vocational and technical programmes of learning and apprenticeships, including qualifications, assessment, certification with digital credentials, leadership and management and recognition services.

ILM

ilm logo mini Our leading brand for leadership, management and coaching qualifications in the UK. ILM offers a specialist suite of qualifications ranging from Level 2 to Level 7. Developing great leaders at all levels.

Find out more about ILM

gen 2 logo mini A City & Guilds Business. Our leading specialist training provider, offering technical skills development and apprenticeships from level two to level 6 in nuclear, as well as science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related industries.

Find out more about Gen2
intertrain logo mini A City & Guilds Business. Our commercial infrastructure and railway training provider, the largest in the UK, delivering a wide range of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related training including apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and traineeships in engineering.

Find out more about Intertrain
kineo logo mini A City & Guilds Business. Our global workplace learning specialists, helping to deliver improved business outcomes and performance through tailored L&D strategies, bespoke content and powerful learning platforms.

Find out more about Kineo
the oxford group logo mini A City & Guilds Business. Our group of over 200 consultants and coaches, developing the skills, behaviours and mindsets of managers and leaders, to give them the tools they need to address key issues in the workplace and help their business to thrive.

Find out more about The Oxford Group
trade skills 4 u logo A City & Guilds Business. Our leading training provider for electrical skills, including Skills Bootcamps, Apprenticeships, and accredited courses.

Find out more about Trade Skills 4U

Our impact

We have partnered with Cranfield University and the Giving Department to create a social impact framework that allows us to assess, monitor and measure the impact of our activities and ensure they are delivering secure and sustained employment, stronger organisations and a more highly skilled and productive workforce.

Read our social impact report

Our people

We are our people. We value each other and we embody our City & Guilds culture through living our values, inspire, improve, achieve and trust.

Find out more about who we are, and how you can join us, in helping people to realise their potential. 

Discover more

Our history and patronage

Our history dates back to 1878, when the City of London Corporation and 16 Livery Companies, the trade guilds, established The City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI). Shortly after CGLI was founded our links with the Royal Family began, and we have enjoyed our Royal patronage ever since with our current President being Her Royal Highness Princess Royal.

Learn more about our history and patronage