Year one at City & Guilds

When I joined City & Guilds in August last year, I had a good idea of the critical role we play in developing skills, both here in the UK and globally. For almost 145 years, we have been a source of stability and a guardian for standards in skills. We have changed lives, communities and industries. We still do that today. Our Impact Report points to the value we have already created in the last year alone.- ￡11.2bn back to the wider economy, demonstrating our contribution to growth through investment in vocational and technical skills.

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As both a Royal Charter Institute and a registered charity, I knew that City & Guilds invests its surplus into amplifying its purpose by focusing on removing barriers to getting people into work and supporting those most in need. Having grown up in East London, with parents who arrived in the country from Pakistan in the 70s, I knew that skills was the only route to personal advancement. We had no social capital or assets to rely on, there was simply a pathway paved with milestones gained through education and skills that offered a route to a better life. The alternative was bleak and apparent to see in the community around me. So, overcoming barriers is personal for me. It is also the beating heart of the work that City & Guilds Foundation enables; acting as a catalyst to opportunities that make a real difference to people’s lives - no matter who they are or where they come from.

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When I think of City & Guilds, I think of a community of changemakers. Changemakers before us and those of us that are here today – each making an important contribution to the legacy of our organisation. And it doesn’t stop there. Through our Foundation, we are working with thousands of diverse organisations, with purpose aligned to our own, in order to grow our collective impact. In short, through our own work and by partnering with the right organisations, we are a powerful movement that can inspire change and reach more of the people who need our help. In doing so, we can amplify their experience and be the voice for skills that is going to be so needed as we continue into a significant political moment as the UK enters into an election and considers what next for skills?

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As I reflect on a very busy 2023, here are a few of my personal highlights that stand out:

• One Impact Report for One C & G - Measuring the difference we’re making – with the full backing of our Chief Exec, Kirstie Donnelly, MBE , the Board and our teams we have been able to put even more of a spotlight on our impact work. We are proudly able to say that City & Guilds courses contributed around ￡11.2 billion to UK society in the past year! And we know the data in the report points to other successes. For example, having created ￡2.1 million of social value through our individual bursary programme and worked with 1500 organisations across 80 countries. We will continue to unpick this data and now work towards our next report for 2024.
• Platforms for political engagement at a critical time. Delivering our first ever parliamentary event with 50+ MPs in attendance, the highest I have seen for such events and a chance to show off our research and insight into the challenges and solutions for skills. This preceded the first ever dedicated space for skills at the 2023 Party Conferences which City & Guilds led and convened. The party conference activity saw an alliance of organisations backing three clear policy asks and multiple events unpacking their implications for skills.
• Our work on unlocking the potential of the prison population – from women in prisons in the north of England to young men on remand in the south, we are investing in skills development behind the gates through the ￡1million Big Idea Fund. This will support many individuals go on to have sustained employment and fulfilling lives.
• Creating space to listen and learn from Young Learners? - the Young Learner Advisory Team are now in full complement. Already they have contributed their voice and experience to our Board, Exec, Politicians and continue to champion the challenges and opportunities that skills development enables – I am looking forward to them getting even more stuck into our work in 2024!
• Celebrating talent across the sector – from rewarding excellence in training and development with our President, HRH The Princess Royal, at the Princess Royal Training Awards in November to celebrating skilled craftspeople for their traditional heritage craft skills at the 2023 Heritage Craft Awards at Windsor Castle alongside our new Vice President Jay Blades MBE , we’ve showcased and celebrated the exceptional talent and best practice taking place across many varied sectors.

There is so much more, including the massive internal communication effort that we have deployed to support colleagues through the year at key milestones of change.?

As I get ready for the Christmas period, I will be looking to recharge for 2024 and feel so excited to be able to play my part at this very special place that is City & Guilds.?

Wishing you all the best for the season and for the New Year.