Our heritage
Our heritage makes us uniquely positioned to anticipate the future of work and learning.
The City and Guilds of London Institute was founded by the City of London and 16 livery companies (the Guilds) in 1878 and granted a Royal Charter in 1900. A registered charity, the Institute remains the awarding body for City & Guilds and ILM qualifications.
We’re proud of our past and excited for our future.
Click on the arrows to see how far we've come since 1878.
2022
Ann Limb awarded damehood in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Our Chair of Trustees, Ann Limb DBE CBE FRSA DL, was made a dame in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to Young People and Philanthropy.
City & Guilds acquires Trade Skills 4U
We are proud to say that as an organisation we are keeping to our strategy by strengthening our direct delivery offer and extending our reach in the electrical engineering market.
2021
City & Guilds announces new accreditation partnership with The Prince’s Foundation
In recognition of their shared commitment to the preservation of heritage craft skills, City & Guilds and The Prince’s Foundation announced a new partnership which will see students on a variety of the charity’s training courses receive internationally recognised qualifications accredited by the global leader in skills development.
2020
Kirstie Donnelly MBE becomes CEO
Kirstie Donnelly MBE, previously the Managing Director of the Skills Credentialing businesses City & Guilds and ILM, became Group Chief Executive.
2019
Intertrain joins the Group
Intertrain, one of the UK’s leading training providers for railway infrastructure, joined the Group's technical training business.
City & Guilds Foundation launched
The City & Guilds Foundation launched to help amplify the activity we do across the Group, through high impact social investment, recognition and advocacy programmes.
2017
Gen2 joined the Group
A leading specialist training provider based in Cumbria.
2016
e3Learning joined the Group
A dedicated workforce risk management and online compliance training provider, based in Australia.
Digitalme joined the Group
A digital credentialing organisation that recognises individuals' competencies and supports employers in finding talent for their businesses.
Princess Royal Training Awards launched
An award created to highlight the positive impact that training and skills development can have on business performance for UK businesses of all sizes and sectors. Find out more on the Princess Royal Training Awards website.
Nine Lanterns joined the Group
An award-winning elearning provider based in Australia.
2015
The Oxford Group joined the Group
Providing management training, leadership development, and executive coaching across the globe to businesses, blue-chip companies, and the public sector.
Skills Development Fund launched
The Skills Development Fund is a £5m investment in projects which transform individuals and communities through developing skills. You can read more about this initiative and the projects invested in on the Group website.
2014
New technologies
Launch of TechBac®, a new approach to skills-based education for 14-19 year olds that’s been designed to bridge the gap between education and employment.
New innovations
Kineo launched its Managed Learning Service.
Transforming lives
ILM course registrations exceeded 1 million people.
2013
International growth
Kineo Pacific, based in New Zealand, joined the Group and became part of Kineo.
2012
Kineo joined the Group
Kineo helped over 200 world leading businesses across the globe to improve their performance through learning and technology.
2011
New President
We welcomed HRH The Princess Royal as our new President.
WorldSkills London 2011
We helped to create the UK’s biggest skills and career event and became the premier sponsor.
2010
New technologies
Learning Assistant, a market-leading e-portfolio system designed to transform the vocational education management process, joined the Group and became part of City & Guilds.
2009
Broadening horizons
We partnered with Manipal Global Education to create Manipal City & Guilds in India. We’ve also partnered with the Manipal Foundation to train at least 63,000 people in construction, hospitality and retail in India over a 10-year period, with an aim to get 70% of learners into employment.
2003
NPTC
Joined our Group and became City & Guilds Land Based Services.
2001
ILM created
Following the merger of the National Examination Board for Supervision and Management (NEBS Management) and Institute for Supervision and Management (ISM).
1995
On the move
We moved into our main office at 1 Giltspur Street, London.
1990
Expanding our global reach
City & Guilds expanded internationally into more than 80 countries.
New acquisition
The Pitman Examinations Institute joined our Group.
1971
Independence day
City & Guilds of London Art School becomes an independent trust.
1951
The Prince Philip Medal
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh became our new President. Every year our Royal President presents this prestigious prize at Buckingham Palace to outstanding individuals who have travelled The City and Guilds of London Institute Path.
1907
New foundations
We created Imperial College.
1900
Royal Charter
Royal Charter of Incorporation granted by Queen Victoria.
1881
King Edward VII
Became our first President when he was still Prince of Wales.
1879
Medals of excellence
We’ve awarded 15,000 medals to outstanding learners and tutors since we launched our programme.
New school
We created Finsbury Technical College and City & Guilds of London Art School.
1878
Founded
The City and Guilds of London Institute founded by the Corporation of the City of London and 16 livery companies (the Guilds).