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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Simon Goodley

Fee hikes, big bonuses, then bosses exit: the curious case of City & Guilds privatisation

A student works with a pipe during a plumbing class at City of Westminster College in London
The October 2025 sale of City & Guilds’ training and accreditations business to the private firm PeopleCert netted the charity £166m. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

When electrician Charlie Butler was contacted by City & Guilds last autumn, he received a shock.

He had branched out to launch a new company schooling future sparkies in Essex, offering City & Guilds-affiliated courses and qualifications. When the representative from the training charity called, Butler was expecting a quick conversation about a small uptick in the annual fees.

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