THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the Group reported a net surplus of £0.6m for the year ended 31 August 2025, with total income of £174.8m and total expenditure of £182.4m. Per the trustees' report, the charity holds free reserves of £46.1m, which is slightly below the deemed appropriate level of £46.6m, and maintains a cash balance of £16.7m. The financial position was further secured by a post-balance sheet divestment of commercial operations to PeopleCert Group, which generated estimated net proceeds of £166m.
What the accounts disclose
“The level of free reserves deemed appropriate for the Group at 31 August 2025 was £46.6m (2024: £34.3m). The value of the actual free reserves at 31 August 2025 was £46.1m”
“On 21 April 2022, the Institute signed a Deed of Guarantee to become primary obliger in guaranteeing the obligations and liabilities of its subsidiary Intertrain UK Limited” — page 38
“On 11 September 2023, the Institute provided a standby letter of credit for £350,000 in respect of card payment and banking facilities related to TradeSkills 4U Limited.” — page 38
“On 21 April 2022, the Institute signed a Deed of Guarantee to become primary obliger in guaranteeing the obligations and liabilities of its subsidiary Intertrain UK Limited” — page 38
“On 11 September 2023, the Institute provided a standby letter of credit for £350,000 in respect of card payment and banking facilities related to TradeSkills 4U Limited.” — page 38
“At 31 August 2025, the funding of the defined benefit City and Guilds (1966) Pension Scheme was in deficit by £14.2m (2024: £17.6m).”
Charity Commission inquiry
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Interim CEO — Interim CEO
- Polly Rowe — Senior Impact, Programme and Engagement Manager
- Lan Che — Awards Manager
- Lauren Roberts — Advocacy Lead
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Trustees
- Andy Marchant
- DICK PALMER
- FRANK LANZA DOUGLAS
- Ian Ailles
- JANE ELIZABETH GIBBON
- Jessica Leigh Jones
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £174.8m | £182.4m |
| 31/08/2024 | £174.1m | £174.6m |
| 31/08/2023 | £159.0m | £167.9m |
| 31/08/2022 | £142.5m | £146.9m |
| 31/08/2021 | £129.9m | £137.4m |
Common questions
Is THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE financially healthy?
The accounts state that the Group reported a net surplus of £0.6m for the year ended 31 August 2025, with total income of £174.8m and total expenditure of £182.4m. Per the trustees' report, the charity holds free reserves of £46.1m, which is slightly below the deemed appropriate level of £46.6m, and maintains a cash balance of £16.7m. The financial position was further secured by a post-balance sheet divestment of commercial operations to PeopleCert Group, which generated estimated net proceeds of £166m. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BDO LLP.
Who funds THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE as a grant recipient include THE FEDERATION OF GROUNDWORK TRUSTS, THE VANDERVELL FOUNDATION, THE CARPENTERS COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE DYERS' COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST, SALTERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE FEDERATION OF GROUNDWORK TRUSTS | FY2022 | £66k |
| THE VANDERVELL FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £18k |
| THE CARPENTERS COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £10k |
| THE VANDERVELL FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £5k |
| THE DYERS' COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £5k |
| SALTERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £5k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE (UK) | 1 | £138k |
| THE RISMAN FOUNDATION | 1 | £50k |
| REES JEFFREYS ROAD FUND | 1 | £40k |
| ANTIPODE FOUNDATION LTD. | 1 | £6k |
| SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST | 1 | £4k |