City and Guilds to Cut UK Staff After Greek Takeover Amid Twenty Two Million Pound Cost Saving Strategy

City & Guilds, the longstanding training and qualifications organisation, is set to reduce its UK workforce significantly following its recent acquisition by the private Greek firm PeopleCert. The move forms part of a £22 million cost-cutting programme, reflecting a marked shift for an institution established in 1878 by the City of London and sixteen livery companies. Historically, City & Guilds has played a vital national role in technical education, offering apprenticeships and qualifications across diverse sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, hairdressing and horticulture.

Following the autumn announcement that the charity would be selling its training and awards business, City & Guilds (C&G), to PeopleCert, details have now emerged regarding the revised operational structure. A presentation to financial backers revealed that PeopleCert aims to make the organisation leaner by eliminating redundant roles and relocating many positions to Greece, where employment costs are substantially lower. Out of a workforce of 1,800, an annual employee turnover of approximately 340 has been reported; of these, a third of the jobs will be transferred to Greece at up to half the UK cost, another third will not be replaced due to functional overlaps, and the remainder will be rehired domestically.

The planned adjustments are expected to reduce personnel costs as a proportion of revenue, from 69 percent to 54 percent within two years, with a long-term goal of reaching the Greek parent firm’s benchmark ratio of 26 percent. PeopleCert’s management highlighted a significant opportunity to transition City & Guilds from a non-profit structure to what it described as a best-in-class, efficient corporate model, aiming to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

This approach is a marked departure from the image of City & Guilds as a champion for employability and vocational advancement in the UK. Well-known alumni include television gardener Alan Titchmarsh, chef Ainsley Harriott and fashion designer Karen Millen. The charity, now renamed the City & Guilds Foundation, retains the proceeds of the C&G sale and operates with gross assets of between £180 million and £200 million, according to a spokesperson. These funds are dedicated to social impact initiatives, including support for disadvantaged groups such as displaced individuals, former offenders and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

PeopleCert will maintain the City & Guilds name for its courses and plans to leverage new technologies to enhance training delivery. Some roles will change through natural attrition, while the firm also expects to create new positions through digital expansion. The restructuring strategy seeks to balance efficiency with continued service to learners and business clients in a digitally-driven era.