Welcome to the June edition of our Foundation newsletter.
At the Foundation, we believe skills can transform lives, but we also recognise that many talented people face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. By supporting organisations that provide practical pathways into learning and work, we are helping individuals contribute their skills and experience while supporting employers to access valuable talent and address workforce shortages.
This commitment to opportunity and social mobility is reflected in the recently published Milburn Review, which highlights the importance of ensuring that background does not determine future success. The review reinforces the need for employers, educators and charities to work together to create fairer pathways into employment and progression, particularly for those facing the greatest barriers. And last week during ‘Refugee Week’ we announced that the City & Guilds Foundation is supporting two new initiatives designed to help refugees and displaced people develop skills, access employment and rebuild their futures. You can find out more about these programmes below.
Finally, I am also pleased to report that we have received a strong number of applications for the 2026 Membership Awards. This is encouraging because exceptional training outcomes can only be achieved through the dedication, expertise and commitment of outstanding tutors, trainers and learning professionals. We are now moving into the assessment phase and look forward to recognising and celebrating those making a life-changing difference through skills development.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Foundation and our work.
Mike Adamson CBE | Interim Chief Executive
New Refugee Week funding to create skills and employment opportunities
To mark Refugee Week, the City & Guilds Foundation has announced funding for two new initiatives that will help refugees and people from migrant backgrounds develop skills, access employment opportunities and build brighter futures.
The Foundation is investing £55,000 in a new programme delivered by Tutors United, the Princess Royal Training Award recipient that supports young people and families in underserved communities. The funding will create paid classroom assistant opportunities alongside accredited training, mentoring and skills development for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
The Foundation is also supporting Breaking Barriers with £75,000 of funding; a charity dedicated to helping refugees rebuild their careers and access sustainable employment. The project will provide targeted employment support, skills development and pathways into sectors facing significant workforce shortages.
Together, these initiatives reflect the Foundation's commitment to ensuring that skills and opportunity are accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
"At the City & Guilds Foundation, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to develop their skills and fulfil their potential, regardless of the circumstances that have shaped their journey. People who have been displaced often bring valuable experience, resilience and ambition, yet can face significant barriers to accessing education, training and employment. By investing in skills development and pathways into sustainable work, we help individuals rebuild their futures while enabling employers and communities to benefit from their talent. Supporting people to contribute fully to society is not only the right thing to do, it also helps create a more inclusive, productive and prosperous economy for everyone."
Polly Rowe | Head of Programmes and Engagement
Princess Royal Training Awards enter eleventh year with strong application numbers
The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to go from strength to strength, with 132 applications received for the 2026 Awards cycle.
Now in their eleventh year, the Awards recognise organisations that can demonstrate the impact of learning, development and training on organisational performance and people outcomes. Applicants are assessed against three Hallmarks of Excellence, evidencing why training was needed, how it was delivered and the results achieved. We expanded eligibility in 2026 to include organisations delivering training to employees both in the UK and Ireland and overseas, reflecting the increasingly global nature of workforce development and we’re delighted to have had some applications from organisations delivering training globally who can prove their impact in the UK.
Applications have now closed and the Awards move into their rigorous assessment phase, celebrating organisations that place skills and development at the heart of success. And research shows up that nearly 10% of awarded organisations over the past 10 years cite that supporting people facing barriers is central to their award-winning training programmes.
Watch our video from the 2025 Awards Ceremony to see why the organisations awarded are so special and register your interest for 2027.
To commemorate Refugee Week 2026 (which was celebrated last week), we're highlighting the impact of the City & Guilds Foundation's support for refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Over the past five years, we've invested more than £316,000 in organisations helping displaced people access skills, training and employment opportunities, generating an estimated £4.26 million in social value – a return of £13.46 for every £1 invested. Through partnerships with organisations including the CIPD Trust and Launchpad Collective, hundreds of people have gained the confidence, qualifications and support needed to rebuild their lives and careers.
At a time when many talented individuals remain excluded from the labour market, these programmes demonstrate how investing in skills can strengthen communities, support employers and create lasting social impact.
