The City and Guilds of London Institute sold its commercial awarding and training activities to PeopleCert to ensure financial sustainability and focus on its charitable mission.

Target Information

The City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) recently concluded the sale of its commercial awarding organization and skills training activities to PeopleCert, a prominent global leader in professional and language certification. The finalized transaction took place on October 31, 2025. As a charitable organization not operating as a public sector body, CGLI has long aimed to fulfill its charitable objectives through both charitable and commercial activities. To ensure its sustainability, it recognizes the importance of navigating the open market successfully.

The decision to sell comes after extensive deliberation by the Trustees, who are responsible for upholding the charity's long-term viability. The Trustees assessed the financial landscape and determined that CGLI's operations needed significant investment to adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment, exacerbated by the limitations imposed by political cycles and competitive pressures. Without timely intervention, the charity faced the risk of falling behind in meeting learner demand and delivering high-quality vocational programs.

Industry Overview

The skills training and certification industry in the United Kingdom holds significant value and importance, as it aims to address the rapidly evolving demands of a knowledge-based economy. The government has prioritized skills development and vocational tra