City & Guilds Cost-Cutting Threatens UK Vocational Training Capacity
City & Guilds is undertaking a £22 million cost-cutting drive that risks reducing the UK's vocational training capacity. These changes could undermine the country's ability to train skilled workers when they are most needed.
Concerns have been raised about a shift within City & Guilds from a nonprofit ethos toward profit-driven motives, potentially compromising the quality and impact of education provided. The planned cuts may lead to increased prices or reduced support, disproportionately affecting learners who rely heavily on vocational training and have limited alternatives.
Additionally, offshoring jobs as part of these financial measures might improve the organization's financials but will erode local training and assessment capacity. Ofqual fined City & Guilds last year for regulatory breaches, raising further questions about standards and oversight.
Michael Robinson from Gosport, Hampshire, in a letter referencing Guardian coverage from 14 December, urges policymakers and regulators to prioritize real livelihoods and opportunities for learners over mere financial considerations.
