Making a real difference, and genuinely changing lives

by Oct 3, 2023City & Guilds initiatives, News, Reports, Social Impact

I have always known that City & Guilds is a force for good – helping millions of people to access skills. And it’s no surprise really that for nearly 150 years our purpose has remained the same – to help people, organisations and economies to develop their skills for growth.

I am delighted to be able to launch today our impact report, which brings to life exactly how we’re delivering on our purpose and making a real difference – genuinely changing lives.

Back in 2020 we made it our ambition to better understand, measure and report on the societal impact we are having across every touch point in the activities we deliver and markets and sectors we work in.

This year, we are able to proudly say that City & Guilds courses have contributed to c. £11.2 billion to UK society in the past year alone.* And 72% of learners in 2019/2020 have now progressed into further education or employment as a result of their City & Guilds qualification. What an achievement when you consider that for this cohort of learners, investing in skills development was done through the pandemic and has enabled them to thrive.

“Never before has the link between skills, thriving communities and prosperity been so clear. Skills development sits at the heart of our economy, and by supporting more learners and organisations in the right ways, we can have a meaningful impact on wider society,  creating a better future for everyone.”

Dame Ann Limb DBE DL

Chair, City & Guilds

This report really does demonstrate the importance of investing in skills development for both the social and economic health of the nation. And it reflects how passionate we all are across City & guilds in wanting individuals and organisations to thrive.

Find out more and read the reports on Our Impact page.

*This figure has been calculated based on the expected earnings uplift, learners’ wellbeing and annualised value of future increased earnings resulting from achieving a City & Guilds qualification.

Want to be kept up to date?

Sign up to City & Guilds Foundation email alerts and newsletter

Previous posts

Human-Centered Leadership: Nurturing Creativity, Connection, and Collaboration

We attended Anthropy this month. The second edition of a gathering like no other, set in the beautiful Eden Project in Cornwall to bring together leading voices to imagine a better world. It’s no surprise that leadership was at the centre of conversations as a tool...

Big Idea Fund: Five new projects awarded funding to unlock potential and support rehabilitation

Back in June we announced that we were inviting expressions of interest for the second round of our Big Idea Fund. The £1m Big Idea Fund was established in 2019 as the first major initiative of our Foundation, to support prisoners with upskilling to aid their...

Neurodiversity Index 2024

Did you know that in the workplace, 40% of neurodivergent employees say they are impacted most days in the workplace by their condition and only 32% of employees felt that they can disclose their neurodivergent condition? These are some of the key findings from our...

Empowering women to enter the construction industry

According to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (2023), women represent only 15% of the construction workforce. At the same time, the construction industry is facing a skills shortage suggesting that this crucial source of talent is being under-utilised....

Foundation & Friends Monthly Round-up: September 2023

As the final days of Summer gently give way to the crisp embrace of autumn here in the UK, we find ourselves at the threshold of another monthly roundup. We have loads of exciting events and opportunities lined up, so let’s dive right In.

Celebrating the impact of learning and development

At the heart of City & Guilds is our purpose which has skills development deep rooted in it. And through the Foundation one of our jobs is to celebrate where really great skills development is happening, and an example of how we do that is our Princess Royal...

Introducing the newly formed Young Learner Advisory Team

In a bold step towards ensuring that learners experience and perspectives are at the heart of key decision-making processes here at City & Guilds, we are pleased to introduce the newly formed Young Learner Advisory Team. This team will provide an ‘active voice’...

City & Guilds launches partnership with The Green Edge

We are excited to announce a new collaboration with sustainable business analysts, The Green Edge, to produce a bespoke podcast series, designed to help us respond to the latest developments in green skills markets.

Eliminating barriers to employment in the green sector

Creating and filling green jobs is crucial if the UK is to meet its target to deliver a net-zero economy by 2050 (Green Jobs Taskforce, 2021). Green jobs help to protect and restore the natural environment whilst also boosting economic growth, improving energy...

Podcast episodes

Share This