City & Guilds stands as one of the world’s most respected and enduring skills development organisations. For nearly 150 years, it has been at the forefront of vocational education, shaping the future of work through skills, innovation, and partnership. City & Guilds degree, City & Guilds diploma, City & Guilds certificate. As the self-proclaimed “Global Skills Partner of Choice,” City & Guilds works with education providers, employers, and governments worldwide to deliver high-quality skills development that transforms lives, industries, and economies.
The City and Guilds of London Institute was founded in 1878 by the Corporation of the City of London and 16 livery companies—the historic trade guilds of the City of London. The founders recognised the urgent need for quality training following the industrial revolution, establishing an organisation to support individuals and businesses by improving professional training under a national system of technical education.
The Institute’s royal connections began in 1881, when King Edward VII—then Prince of Wales—became its first President. This royal patronage was formalised in 1900 when Queen Victoria granted the Institute a Royal Charter. Today, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal serves as President, having taken over the role from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in 2011.
Until October 2025, City & Guilds’ awarding, assessment, and training activities operated as part of the Institute’s charitable objectives. Today, City & Guilds continues this work as a commercial business, operating as an awarding organisation and training provider, while the City & Guilds Foundation carries forward the charitable legacy as a Royal Chartered body.
The City & Guilds Foundation continues the charitable work of the City and Guilds of London Institute as a Royal Chartered body. It focuses on high-impact social investment, employer recognition awards, fellowship programmes, and advocacy that champion skills as a lever for social change. The Foundation maintains a close relationship with the livery companies, which still support education, training, and the charitable sector with approximately £40 million in annual donations. The steps to order a City & Guilds certificate.
City & Guilds is more than a qualifications provider—it is a global institution with a remarkable legacy and an ambitious vision for the future of skills. From its origins in the workshops of Victorian England to its current position as a global skills partner operating in over 100 countries, the organisation has remained true to its founding purpose: helping people, organisations, and economies develop the skills they need to thrive. With its comprehensive qualifications portfolio, commitment to innovation, and deep industry partnerships, City & Guilds continues to shape the future of work and empower individuals worldwide to build successful careers through skills.
