City & Guilds to Shrink UK Workforce Following Sale to PeopleCert Amid £22m Cost-Cutting Drive
City & Guilds (C&G) is undertaking a significant reduction in its UK workforce as part of a £22 million cost-cutting initiative following its acquisition by Greek certification company PeopleCert in October 2025. PeopleCert purchased City & Guilds from the City & Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) for an undisclosed sum.
A presentation by PeopleCert to its backers outlined plans to realize £22 million in savings at C&G, including £13 million through personnel cost synergies achieved by not replacing UK staff who leave. C&G currently employs about 1,800 staff. Under the plan, approximately one-third of these roles will be relocated to Greece, where costs are up to 50% lower. The remainder will either not be replaced or may be rehired in the UK.
The workforce strategy aims to reduce personnel costs as a proportion of revenue from 69% down to 54% within two years, with a longer-term goal of approximately 26% to align with the cost structure of the Greek group.
The CGLI stated that the sale will create new opportunities and move City & Guilds toward a leaner corporate structure, noting that while some jobs may change through attrition, others could grow through strategic expansion focused on a digital and AI-enabled environment.
Proceeds from the sale, reportedly around £180 million to £200 million in gross assets, will be allocated to the City & Guilds Foundation. This will fund bursaries and provide support for displaced individuals, former offenders, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the foundation's initiatives.
