Our networks | City & Guilds Foundation

From Princesses to prisoners: celebrating 30 years at City & Guilds with Michael Osbaldeston

by Laura Mountain | 20 Mar 2025 | News, News & events, Our networks

Today marks the 30th anniversary of our much-loved colleague Michael. You're just as likely to see him with a glass of champagne at the City’s most elegant halls as you are helping out at a community kitchen in Stockport. We are indebted to ‘MO’ for his time, generosity, and good humour. Publishing here his Friday reflections from a couple of weeks ago to share just a tiny bit of life as the inimitable Michael Osbaldeston. Here’s to the next 30! What a week! If there is a certain beer...

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Celebrating a Decade of Transformative Training Excellence with Legal & General

by Natasha Kalinga | 24 Feb 2025 | Awards alumni, Podcasts, Princess Royal Training Awards

Welcome to the second episode of the brand-new season of Foundation and Friends! This time, we dive into the world of learning and development with a special guest, Peter Coats, Group Protection Academy Manager at Legal & General. Hosted by Fenella Tallon, Chief Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards, this episode explores the transformative impact of exceptional training initiatives and what it takes to achieve award-winning L&D success. Peter shares his journey into the...

Celebrating our 2024 Fellows of the City & Guilds of London Institute

by Polly Rowe | 22 Jan 2025 | Awards, Fellowship Awards, Fellowship Network, News, News & events, Our networks

We are delighted to have recently awarded Fellowship of the City & Guilds of London Institute to five new Fellows who are making exceptional contributions to industry, education and craft. Becoming a Fellow is a prestigious honour; the highest that can be conferred by the City and Guilds of London Institute. Founded in 1878 and established as part of the City & Guilds Foundation, the Fellowship is a mark of excellence, celebrating those who have demonstrated remarkable professional and...

Celebrating the achievements of young people with Positive Youth Foundation

by Faiza Khan MBE | 21 Jan 2025 | Charity partners, Funding, News, News & events, Our networks, Refugee support

It was an absolute honour last week to address the graduating cohort from Positive Youth Foundation - a day brimming with celebration, inspiration, and pride. For those not familiar, Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) supports newly arrived young people to the UK, aged 16-25, in Coventry. Initially established in 2011 as a youth charity to support young people in the city, in 2015 PYF created its Involved Programme to support the integration of newly arrived refugee and asylum-seeking young...

Foundation & Friends Podcast: Exploring Innovative Training Solutions with HX Expeditions

by Natasha Kalinga | 13 Jan 2025 | Awards alumni, Podcasts, Princess Royal Training Awards

In this episode, we dive into the world of HX Expeditions and their award-winning training programme for expedition guides working in polar bear territories. Jim Mayer, Expedition Team Training Manager, shares insights into how their training has evolved to ensure safety in extreme conditions, and how this unique approach led to their recognition with the prestigious award. Key highlights from the conversation include: Real-life training, real results: Jim discusses the importance of hands-on,...

Funding for makers: Applications for QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Grants open until 10 Feb

by Stuart Tucker | 9 Jan 2025 | Bursaries, Charity partners, News, Our networks

Sustaining vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts QEST offers three grants to support makers and conservators at various career stages. Grants are available for education and training, with Scholarships of up to £18,000, Emerging Maker grants of up to £10,000, and up to £12,000 towards an apprentice’s salary. Since their founding in 1990, QEST have awarded £7 million to almost 900 individuals working across a broad range of disciplines including in glassblowing, thatching, guitar...

Inspiration and innovation at HMP Pentonville with XO Bikes

by Polly Rowe | 9 Oct 2024 | Charity partners, Critical transition points, Funding, Future Skills Commission for Prisons, News, News & events, Our networks, Prisoners and ex-offenders, Social Impact

Since we created the City & Guilds Foundation in 2019, one of our key funding activities has been identifying and activating practical ways to support those who have been in Prison (or at risk of entering Prison) to build skills and secure, and sustain, employment. We know that there is a recognised and agreed need to reduce reoffending, and evidence shows that upskilling prisoners, together with stable accommodation and support is the most effective way to recidivism. Our £1m Big Idea...

How Catch22 is supporting individuals into entry-level green sector roles

by Laura Mountain | 7 Oct 2024 | Campaigning, Charity partners, Green skills, News, News & events, Our networks

We know that the cost of training can be a huge obstacle to accessing the skills needed to get into work. This makes it even more challenging to those already facing barriers in society. That’s why over 20 years ago we established our bursary programme: to support those in financial need to access training and development which will lead to sustainable employment. We focus particularly on awarding funding in sectors where more skilled workers will be needed in the future. So when we heard that...

Fellowship in the City event: Paving the way for those looking to progress in engineering

by Stuart Tucker | 3 Sep 2024 | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Events, Fellowship Network, Livery companies, News

Over 145 years ago, City & Guilds was founded by Livery Companies with royal patronage, and ever since has celebrated and valued that relationship. On Monday 02 September, at Mansion House in London, we brought together two of our oldest friends, the City of London and Imperial College – one of not just the UK’s foremost centres of higher education excellence, but one which is recognised as the very best in the world. We also had a number of our stakeholder employers and Fellows in...

The Commonwealth Heritage Forum and City & Guilds of London Art School are pleased to offer Introduction to Global Conservation: Commonwealth Summer School

by Michael Osbaldeston | 25 Jul 2024 | News, News & events, Our networks

City & Guilds of London Art School is delighted to be partnering with Commonwealth Heritage Forum to host a two-week Introduction to Global Conservation summer school. The summer school will bring together 24 participants working in restoration and construction specialisms from across Commonwealth countries, many of whom are facing the unprecedented challenges that climate change presents to heritage buildings. At the Art School, participants will spend two weeks building on their...