This is an incredibly exciting time to join the City & Guilds Foundation.
We have a secure income, a strong brand, a talented and committed team – and now, an opportunity to set a new long-term strategy. This has been enabled by the recent sale of City & Guilds’ commercial training and awarding body to a new owner, which has created a substantial financial base which we will use to achieve long term impact.
As a Royal Charter charity, the City & Guilds Foundation is uniquely positioned to influence the skills landscape at a time when society needs it most. Our mission is clear: to use the power of skills to drive social and economic change. We already have a track record in this space and over the past 5 years we have awarded £5.6m in grants and supported 15,000 individuals. Our funding with rehabilitation and displaced people partners has also delivered £23m in social return on investment over the last five years.
You can read more about that in our 2025 Impact Report | City & Guilds Foundation which shows our excellent relationships with both charities and employers. Our relationships with frontline charities help us reach people facing the greatest barriers to work, while our employer partnerships – including through the prestigious Princess Royal Training Awards – allow us to celebrate excellence, influence best practice, and connect employers with individuals seeking meaningful employment.
In summary, we have a unique set of capabilities and relationships that matter to the future of Britain right now, whether it is addressing inequalities or productivity. We believe that the clarity of our purpose and power of our brand should enable us to leverage in additional funders and investors behind the cause.
This is a pivotal period for the Foundation, and whilst successful streams of activity already exist, we are ready for the next stage. Our future strategic framework is currently being shaped by Trustees and interim CEO Mike Adamson CBE. which the incoming Chair and CEO will then refine and finalise, to enable us to deliver the greatest possible societal impact and long-term systems change. With this in mind, we are seeking an experienced Chair who can help us realise that potential. The Chair will combine a passion for the role that skills can play in transforming opportunity and building a strong economy, together with a good understanding of modern governance and excellent networks.
This is an exciting time for the right leader to come on board to steward the charity through to its 150th anniversary in 2028 and beyond.
If this sounds appealing, we would be delighted to hear from you.