Annie Warburton awarded Fellowship of City and Guilds
Annie Warburton, Chief Executive and Clerk of The Goldsmiths’ Company has been awarded Fellowship of the City and Guilds of London Institute – the highest honour that the Council can confer on an individual – in recognition of her personal contribution to, and support of, technical education and training, her commitment to skills development and her career-long commitment to equity and diversity.
Annie, who is the first female clerk in the Goldsmiths’ Company’s 697-year history, received her diploma from HRH The Princess Royal in a ceremony at the 2024 Princess Royal Training Awards, held on 21 November, at Goldsmiths’ Hall. The annual awards celebrate companies and organisations who prove exceptional commitment to learning and development. Winners come from all sectors of the economy and society spanning from large public firms to SMEs and charities from across the UK and Ireland. This year award winners included the National Theatre, Bentley Motors, Changing Lives (Newcastle), Dishoom and IBM. The Goldsmiths’ Centre was recognised by an award in 2017.
“A pioneer in vocational training, City & Guilds enables people around the globe to build the skills to realise their potential. At the Goldsmiths’ Company, we’re proud to have been one of the founders of City & Guilds and, nearly 150 years later, there is still great affinity between their mission and ours.
The need for high quality skills training has never been more urgent, for the economy, for society and for individuals to flourish. In receiving this Fellowship at a ceremony recognising training excellence across the UK, I am honoured and humbled in equal measure. Equity, inclusion and diversity are matters of social justice. The evidence is that they also contribute to creative and commercial success, yet there is still so much to do to overcome inequities in our society. And so, I affirm my commitment to act as an ambassador for the City & Guilds’ vital work in the world.”
“People are our greatest asset, and the skills, knowledge and experience they bring to the workplace are of fundamental importance and incredible value. The City and Guild’s celebration of organisations that nurture the professional and personal development of their people through excellent training and mentorship opportunities was wonderful to see, and as a lifelong proponent of vocational training I was delighted to welcome them to Goldsmiths’ Hall.
Recognising individuals that create positive change and both acknowledging and celebrating the impact they make is vital. The award today of a City and Guilds Fellowship to our CEO and Clerk, Annie Warburton for her ongoing commitment to championing the development of people in so many ways does just this and is something of which we are all incredibly proud.”
The City and Guilds of London Institute was founded by the City of London and 16 livery companies (the Guilds) – including The Goldsmiths’ Company – in 1878 and granted a Royal Charter in 1900. A registered charity, the Institute is the awarding body for City & Guilds and ILM qualifications.
Photographs © Rachael Barron Photography