No one is untouched by Covid-19, and we are humbled by seeing so many of our communities and partners responding with such energy and grace to what is a difficult time for people and societies all over the world.

Supporting communities throughout Covid-19We know that people need support now, to help them get the food, medicine and essential supplies to survive. We also know that many people are concerned about their work and employment prospects as the economic impact unfolds and people face losing their jobs and livelihoods.

The City & Guilds Foundation is committed to providing inspiration and practical support to people now, to help us prepare for the world we wake up in tomorrow. Now more than ever it is important that we are doing whatever we can to help people build skills and find practical routes into employment, no matter what their circumstances.

Through amplifying our core purpose –  supporting people into, on the, and onto the next job – we will be focusing a number of social investment and advocacy programmes to help our networks and organisations working tirelessly to deliver vital services in this time of turbulence.

We’ll share all our activities on this site when live, but please do get in touch with us with any ideas about how we can deliver our purpose together.

Connecting communities

Part of our purpose as a Foundation is to bring together people from all walks of life who are passionate about breaking down barriers to developing skills and meaningful employment. As the situation around Covid-19 presents a new way of learning, working, and living for us all, we’ll be sharing insights, ideas and innovative ways individuals and organisations are facing up to challenges. Whether you’re an employer, a student or a charity, we’d love to hear from you and for you to check out what’s going on around our communities.

Note for L&D and HR leaders

Working with our Princess Royal Training Awards alumni we are hosting an L&D hour to submit questions and have live discussions on the new challenges brought by the Covid-19 outbreak. Join us to learn from colleagues and share ideas.

Note for charity partners

We’ve signed up the Flexible Funders pledge, to show our support for our partner organisations that do such important work. To discuss your initiative further, get in touch with us.

Note for Prison and Probation service providers

We recently launched the Future Skills Commission for Prisons to identify and activate practical support to help prisoners develop skills and find a job on release. Prison and probation are under more pressure than ever, as are employers who give offenders a second chance, so we’re doing whatever we can to support charities and organisations delivering on the frontline. Get in touch if you want more information.

Opening access to learning resources

City & Guilds is providing free digital learning resources for anyone; find out more on their dedicated Covid-19 page.

City & Guilds Group response

As a multi-national organisation working with education providers, employers and governments in over 100 countries, the City & Guilds Group is closely monitoring the global situation and putting in place our own measures to support our employees, customers and stakeholders. Read our full response on the City & Guilds Group website.

What's your view?

Got an idea around how to address a Covid-19 challenge? Contact us via the form below.

Want to be kept up to date?

Sign up to City & Guilds Foundation email alerts and newsletter

Previous posts

Championing change: our role as co-conveners of the ACF Criminal Justice Network

At City & Guilds Foundation, we believe in removing barriers and creating opportunities for those who need them most. That’s why we’re proud to be co-conveners of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) Criminal Justice Network, alongside Co-op Foundation....

Celebrating 25 years of our bursary programme: Transforming lives, families and communities

2025 marks a major milestone: 25 years of the our bursary scheme. In 2000, City and Guilds of London Institute celebrated its Charter Centenary by awarding 100 bursaries and since then the programme has helped thousands of people overcome financial and personal...

Modern Work Experience: Creating Fair and Future-Ready Opportunities for Every Young Person

Work experience isn’t what it used to be and that’s a good thing. The UK is on the cusp of a real shift in how young people engage with the world of work, moving from a box-ticking placement to a modern, structured, and equitable programme. But ambition alone won’t...

A decade of excellence: Royal recognition for UK and Irish organisations honoured at the Princess Royal Training Awards

On Tuesday 2 December, in an awards ceremony at Fishmongers Hall, the City & Guilds Foundation had the honour of recognising 56 outstanding employers who offer leading edge training programmes to their staff. City & Guilds Foundation President, Her Royal...

City & Guilds Foundation supports women to gain DIY skills through new housing partnership

City & Guilds Foundation has awarded funding to support a pilot project led by employment support social enterprise Frameworks, in partnership with Build Salford and Salix Homes, a key provider of social housing in Salford. The Women in Maintenance project has so...

Celebrating Excellence: Fellowship Luncheon at Imperial College London

Earlier this week we hosted a Fellowship Luncheon with Imperial College London, held once again at the elegant 170 Queen’s Gate. This prestigious event brought together Fellows of the City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) to celebrate excellence and achievement...

£247,000 awarded to support young Londoners’ futures

We’re pleased to announce the first round of funding from our newly established Transitions Commission, which has seen us award £247,000 in grants to three London-based charities which are dedicated to helping young people move successfully into education and...

Transforming access to STEM with EngineeringUK

We’re proud to announce a groundbreaking five-year partnership with EngineeringUK aimed at improving access to high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) experiences for secondary school students across the UK. This initiative represents a...

The City & Guilds Foundation announces 19 exceptional recipients of the 2025 Membership Awards

The City & Guilds Foundation is delighted to announce the 19 outstanding tutors and trainers recognised as recipients of the 2025 Membership Awards – a prestigious programme celebrating those who go above and beyond to transform lives through skills and training....

A New Chapter for the City & Guilds Foundation

The City & Guilds of London Institute has entered a landmark agreement with global leader in education and assessment PeopleCert, marking a pivotal moment in which our revenue-generating activities will be enabled to access greater investment, and have greater...

Podcast episodes

Foundation & Friends Podcast (2024-)

​Green Skills Podcast in collaboration with Green Edge (2024-)

Hosted by Dr. Michael Cross and Fraser Harper, this podcast series explores the critical transition towards a sustainable planet and the pivotal role of green skills in shaping the economy.

Listen now

City & Guilds Foundation Podcast (2021-22)

Share This
City & Guilds Foundation
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. For more information see our privacy policy.