City & Guilds

City & Guilds, a vocational training body formerly owned by the UK charity City & Guilds London Institute, is currently under intense scrutiny. Recent news focuses on controversy surrounding the organization following its sale of the qualification awards business to a private company. This sale triggered million-pound bonuses for executives, including a reported £1.7m award for the chief executive. Simultaneously, the new owners have reportedly tripled the pay of the top six executives while implementing a £22 million cost-cutting drive and reducing the UK workforce. These events have led to a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission into the sale of the business arm. Furthermore, the chief executive, Kirstie Donnelly, and the chief financial officer, Abid Ismail, have been placed on leave. The situation highlights concerns about financial management and ethical considerations within the organization, raising questions about its priorities and accountability.