About the Foundation
Each of the programmes we run act as a catalyst for us to make a difference to people, organisations and society through investing our surplus into helping everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, get opportunities to succeed.
Meet our
Team
Learn about
Our Impact
Learn about
our Heritage
Introduction
The City and Guilds of London Institute was founded in 1878, Until October 2025, City & Guilds awarding, assessment and training activities operated as part of the Institute’s charitable objectives to alleviate barriers to skills and employment.
Today, City & Guilds, continues this work as a commercial business, operating as an awarding organisation and training provider, increasing skills access for individuals, learners and organisations around the world. This mission is an important part of our legacy and our future as a global skills partner of choice.
The City & Guilds Foundation continues the charitable work of the City and Guilds of London Institute as a Royal Chartered body. It remains an important vehicle for high impact social investment, employer recognition awards, fellowship and advocacy programmes. All of which champion skills and their place in society as a lever for social change.
Both organisations are independent, but have a shared purpose, to increase access to skills for individuals, organisations and economies.
Our heritage
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).
Our founders recognised the need for quality training following the boom in industry after the industrial revolution, their objective was to support individuals and businesses by improving professional training under a national system of technical education.
Shortly after CGLI was founded our links with the Royal Family began, when King Edward VII became the first president of The City of Guilds London Institute in 1881, whilst he was still the Prince of Wales. The Institute was then granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1900.
We have enjoyed our Royal patronage ever since with our current President being Her Royal Highness Princess Royal whom we named the Princess Royal Training Awards after.
110 Livery Companies are classed as Founder Members for the CGLI. Many of these guilds date back hundreds of years to the early Middle Ages and the Livery Companies of the City of London were formed as trade guilds to regulate competition and maintain high professional standards, they were able to control prices, control wages, determine who could trade and ensure a high quality of work.
Today, the Livery Companies still champion their industries and play an integral role in their respective trades or crafts. Some still have powers of regulation and inspection, and some are awarding bodies for professional qualifications. They support education training and the charitable sector by donating on average £40million annually. They also continue to focus strongly on teaching the practice and theory of their crafts and trades. The City & Guilds Foundation continues to have a close relationship with the Livery Companies today.