News

The latest stories in this category from the City & Guilds Foundation and our networks.

Meet the 2026 Princess Royal Training Award recipients: from stained glass restorers to prison mentors

Meet the 2026 Princess Royal Training Award recipients: from stained glass restorers to prison mentors

by | 14 Aug 2026 | , , , , ,

Every year are genuinely moved by what we read in the Princess Royal Training Award applications. This year was no exception. Today, we're delighted to share that 56 training programmes have been recognised in the 2026 Princess Royal Training Awards, chosen from 132 applications submitted from right across the UK, Ireland and, for the first time, beyond. Now in its eleventh year, the Awards celebrate organisations that go above and beyond for their people's learning and development, and shine...

read more
Foundation Newsletter: July 2026

Foundation Newsletter: July 2026

by | 21 Jul 2026 | , ,

Welcome to the July edition of the Foundation newsletter. As I prepare to step down as Interim CEO at the end of this month, it feels like an appropriate moment to reflect on what has been a hugely important period for the City & Guilds Foundation. In January I announced that I had three clear priorities during this Interim period. The first was to recruit a permanent Chief Executive and Chair to lead the Foundation into its next chapter. I am delighted that both of those appointments have...

read more
Maintaining a robust process: A new generation of Ambassadors strengthening the Princess Royal Training Awards

Maintaining a robust process: A new generation of Ambassadors strengthening the Princess Royal Training Awards

by | 14 Jul 2026 | , , , , ,

This year the Princess Royal Training Awards celebrated their eleventh year, and the programme continued to go from strength to strength, with 132 applications received from organisations committed to delivering exceptional learning and development. Delivered by the City & Guilds Foundation, the Awards remain a unique, evidence-based programme that recognises and celebrates the strategic impact of learning, development and training within organisations. Applicants must demonstrate...

read more
Foundation Newsletter: June 2026

Foundation Newsletter: June 2026

by | 22 Jun 2026 | , ,

Welcome to the June edition of our Foundation newsletter. At the Foundation, we believe skills can transform lives, but we also recognise that many talented people face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. By supporting organisations that provide practical pathways into learning and work, we are helping individuals contribute their skills and experience while supporting employers to access valuable talent and address workforce shortages. This commitment to opportunity...

read more
The return on belonging: Investing in refugee talent and skills, unlocking potential

The return on belonging: Investing in refugee talent and skills, unlocking potential

by | 22 Jun 2026 | , , , , , ,

Last week Refugee Week shone a light on the experiences, contributions and resilience of people seeking sanctuary in the UK. As we reflect on last week, it feels like an appropriate time to look back on the City & Guilds Foundation’s long-standing commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers into skills, employment and training and the impact our funding has had through our charity partners. Over the five years to 2025, the Foundation invested over £316,000 through its Displaced...

read more
£130,000 boost to help refugees build skills and rebuild careers

£130,000 boost to help refugees build skills and rebuild careers

by | 18 Jun 2026 | , , , , , , ,

As Refugee Week shines a spotlight on the contributions, resilience and potential of people seeking sanctuary, the City & Guilds Foundation has announced funding for two new initiatives designed to help refugees and people from migrant backgrounds build skills, confidence and sustainable futures in the UK. A combined investment of £130,000 will support projects delivered by award-winning education charity Tutors United and refugee employment charity Breaking Barriers, helping individuals...

read more
Princess Royal Training Award-Winning Impact: How P Flannery’s Skills Bootcamps are tackling the construction skills gap and building an inclusive skills pipeline

Princess Royal Training Award-Winning Impact: How P Flannery’s Skills Bootcamps are tackling the construction skills gap and building an inclusive skills pipeline

by | 11 Jun 2026 | , ,

When P Flannery Plant Hire received a Princess Royal Training Award in 2025, it recognised a bold, employer-led approach to tackling one of the construction industry’s most persistent challenges: a critical shortage of skilled plant operators. Through the development of its Skills Bootcamps, the business has created a reliable pipeline of talent for its own workforce and has also opened up employment opportunities for individuals facing significant barriers to work. Addressing a critical...

read more
Supporting the carers who put others first: A £25,000 bursary fund to help young carers build their futures

Supporting the carers who put others first: A £25,000 bursary fund to help young carers build their futures

by | 10 Jun 2026 | ,

Carers Trust is a leading UK charity working to transform the lives of unpaid carers, partnering with a network of local carer organisations to deliver vital support, services and recognition for those who look after family members or friends. For many young carers, those responsibilities can make it harder to access the training and qualifications that open up work opportunities and further study. That is precisely the kind of barrier the City & Guilds Foundation aims to break down: our...

read more
Behind every NEET statistic is a young person – what the Milburn review means for skills

Behind every NEET statistic is a young person – what the Milburn review means for skills

by | 2 Jun 2026 | , , , , ,

The publication of Alan Milburn’s interim review on young people and work should be a wake-up call for all of us. With more than 1 million young people now classified as NEET, this is not simply a youth employment challenge. It is a challenge for our economy and our future workforce. Across the City & Guilds Foundation network, partners have welcomed the review while highlighting an important reality: the evidence has been there for years. What we need now is collective action. Our funded...

read more