Responsible Business

City & Guilds is a global leader in education and skills development, with a longstanding commitment to providing the highest quality training and qualifications. Across our entire value chain, we strive to make a positive impact on people, the planet, and the economy.

Our Responsible
Business Strategy

Responsible Business
Report & GRI Index

Memberships and Partnerships

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Why Sustainability Matters

At City & Guilds, we believe in the importance of a diverse, inclusive and sustainable future. It’s why we have been working at the forefront of the skills agenda for over 140 years, to help people, organisations and economies to develop skills for growth, and it’s why our commitment to sustainability is so important to us.

Over the past few years, we have made a lot of progress in this area, but we understand there is still a lot of work to be done, to reduce our climate impact, be an inclusive equitable and fair organisation, and continue to inspire long term investment in skills.

On the below page, you will find our Responsible Business Report, which goes into more details on our focus areas, goals and how we plan to reach them.

City & Guilds are workings towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

UN SDG 4: Quality Education
UN SDG 5: Gender Equality
UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
UN SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
UN SDG 13: Climate Action

Our Responsible Business Strategy

At City & Guilds we are committed to reducing our negative impacts on the environment and increasing our positive social impact by developing the skills needed to create a more sustainable world.

Responsible Business Strategy

People

Be an inclusive, fair and equitable organisation.

  • Champion under-represented and disadvantaged groups, advocating for more inclusive and equitable environments.
  • Foster an inclusive and equitable culture in which all colleagues can thrive.

Planet

Play an active role in the transition to net zero economy.

  • Equip society with the green skills needed for the net zero transition.
  • Reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions in line with global net zero goal.

Products

Help people, organisations and economies grow.

  • Identify and use individuals’ destination and organisational outcomes to inspire long-term investment in skills.
  • Use Responsible Business drivers as a core part of strategic decision making when developing products and services to ensure we upskill people to transition to a healthy economy.

individuals supported through our qualifications and funding initiatives

%

success rate in learners securing sustained employment

Responsible Business Report

City & Guilds is a global leader in education and skills development, with a longstanding commitment to providing the highest quality training and qualifications. Across our entire value chain, we strive to make a positive impact on people, the planet, and the economy.

Our purpose – to help people, organisations and economies develop their skills for growth – drives us to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Kirstie Donnelly MBE

CEO, City & Guilds

Highlights include:

Commitment to Sustainability

Reduced operational emissions by 10% since 2019, aligning with the Paris Agreement goals.

Committed to achieving a net-zero economy by 2050, focusing on reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the green skills transition.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Race Readiness Program: Enhanced DEI initiatives with programs like ‘Race Readiness’ to foster racial equity.

Employee Support: Active support for groups including Women’s Network and LGBTQ+ communities.

Strategic Focus Areas

People: Promoting inclusivity and supporting under-represented groups, including prison-leavers and refugees.

Planet: Advancing environmental sustainability and expanding our Green Skills agenda.

Products: Innovating to meet future skills needs and driving long-term investment in economic growth.

Governance and Compliance

Managed by a dedicated Trustee Board and Executive Management, ensuring responsible business practices and adherence to industry standards.

Compliance with laws and regulations with no significant non-compliance issues reported.

Community and Social Impact

Prison and Refugee Support:

Engaged with over 120 prisons and supported skills development for refugees.

Outlook

Enhanced Impact Measurement: Refining methods to assess and enhance our real-world impact.

Ongoing Challenges: Addressing key challenges in diversity, equity, and climate change to build a sustainable and equitable future.

While the challenges we face are considerable, I am confident that with a clear vision and a unwavering commitment to our values, City and Guilds will continue to help individuals, organisations and economies grow.

Faiza Khan MBE

Executive Director, Corporate Affairs & Foundation, City & Guilds

Read the 2023
Responsible Business Report

Read the
GRI Index

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