Annual Review 2007/2008

Vision and strategy

2007-2008 signified a new stage of the journey for the City & Guilds Group - a year in which we have taken a good look at our direction and put a new strategy in place to make the most of our resources and grow on a global scale. This strategy will apply to everything we do when running our business, and for the Group will mean greater team-working and better cost management. For our customers it will mean quality solutions for skills development and a consistently high level of service. For our people our aim is to make City & Guilds a great place to work.

Currently, 99% of UK employers recognise the City & Guilds name*. Our operating income increased by 9% in 2007-2008 and we achieved a total income of £103.6 million for the full year. We issued 1.6 million certificates. Both UK and international sales enjoyed 13% growth, and City & Guilds NPTC grew by 19%. It has been a great start, but we will now pick up the pace - accelerating growth, creating a truly customer-centric organisation, delivering operational excellence and creating a high performance culture. This is to fulfil our aim - to become the global benchmark for learner-centred skills development.

*CBI Education and Skills Survey, April 2008.