WorldSkills UK chief to lead City & Guilds Foundation

Ben Blackledge, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, has been appointed as the new leader of the City & Guilds Foundation. He will continue in his current role to oversee Team UK's preparations and performance at the WorldSkills competition in Shanghai later this year, ensuring continuity during the leadership transition. The move brings together two significant players in the technical education sector. WorldSkills UK champions vocational excellence through skills competitions and training programmes, whilst City & Guilds is one of the country's foremost awarding organisations for technical qualifications. The appointment highlights the strategic importance of vocational pathways in preparing young people for employment and supporting local economic needs. For Lead Members overseeing skills strategies, this leadership change comes at a critical time for the sector, as local areas work to align provision with labour market demands through apprenticeships, T-levels and adult learning initiatives.