The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into the City and Guilds of London Institute following concerns surrounding the sale of a major part of

its operations.

The regulator confirmed it is examining new information linked to the charity’s decision to sell its City & Guilds awards business to private education company PeopleCert in October 2025. The transaction involved the transfer of the charity’s awarding, assessment and training activities, which now operate under the name City & Guilds Vocational Education and Apprenticeships.

While the Commission had been informed of the proposed sale in advance and sought assurances about the trustees’ decision-making, the deal itself did not require formal regulatory approval. However, subsequent public reporting has raised fresh questions about the sale, including scrutiny of executive bonuses awarded around the time of the transaction.

As part of the inquiry, the Charity Commission will assess the accuracy and completeness of information provided by the charity during the sale process. Investigators will also examine how trustees reached their decision, including what advice and evidence they considered before approving both the sale and a related “coexistence agreement” with the newly formed company.

The regulator has warned that the scope of the investigation could be widened if further governance or regulatory concerns come to light.

Members of the public and sector insiders who believe they hold relevant information have been invited to contact the Commission directly. Guidance on submitting information and how complaints are handled is available on the watchdog’s website.

In line with its usual practice, the Charity Commission said it intends to publish a report once the inquiry concludes, setting out its findings, any regulatory action taken, and the final outcome.

The statutory inquiry formally opened on 7 January 2026. Photo by Philafrenzy, Wikimedia commons.