News

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

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...

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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...

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£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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Rising dough, rising futures: £50,000 awarded to The Clink Bakery at HMP Brixton

Rising dough, rising futures: £50,000 awarded to The Clink Bakery at HMP Brixton

by | 19 May 2026 | , , ,

The City & Guilds Foundation has awarded £50,000 to The Clink Charity to safeguard and strengthen The Clink Bakery at HMP Brixton; a life-changing vocational training programme that is equipping people in prison with the skills, qualifications and support they need to build stable lives after release. About The Clink Bakery The Clink Bakery opened in October 2022 at HMP Brixton, next door to The Clink's award-winning restaurant. Operating as a real production kitchen, it provides learners...

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Building Skills, Rebuilding Futures: The Transformation of Spinney House

Building Skills, Rebuilding Futures: The Transformation of Spinney House

by | 18 May 2026 | , , ,

A major refurbishment project which was awarded £25,000 funding from us at the City & Guilds Foundation is nearing completion. The project has saw the transformation of an empty three-bedroom house into a safe, welcoming space where women on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) can spend quality time with their children. The initiative, delivered by Volunteer It Yourself in partnership with Wates Group, is around 85% complete and already demonstrating the value of combining rehabilitation...

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Announcing our new Chief Executive, Ben Blackledge

Announcing our new Chief Executive, Ben Blackledge

by | 12 May 2026 | , ,

A leading voice in UK and international skills development will join us at a pivotal moment for opportunity and growth. Today we’ve announced the appointment of Ben Blackledge as our new Chief Executive, bringing extensive experience in skills leadership and a strong commitment to transforming lives through education and opportunity. Ben joins from WorldSkills UK, where he has spent the past 12 years, most recently as CEO, championing skills excellence and helping to create world-class...

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