Celebrating 1 million digital credentials!

We’d like to thank our customers for supporting us to reach this milestone, and we look forward to shaping the future of digital recognition together

15 January 2025

As the global skills partner, we are proud to share a new milestone with you: We have issued over one million digital credentials!

This achievement not only demonstrates the rapid adoption of digital certification but also reinforces our position at the forefront of skills recognition and certification in the digital age.

First and foremost, we want to thank all our highly valued customers, training providers and employers, who have embraced and supported our learners through this digital transformation with such enthusiasm. Your trust in City & Guilds as a market leader in digital credentialling, and your willingness to adapt to new technologies has been instrumental in reaching this significant milestone.

A new era in skills recognition

Since launching our digital credentials initiative in 2018, we have witnessed a transformation in how learners showcase their achievements and how employers verify candidates' qualifications.

Digital credentials represent more than just a technological upgrade from paper certificates; they are reshaping how skills and achievements are documented, shared, and validated in today's digital-first world.

‘Reaching one million digital credentials is more than just a number,' says Kirstie Donnelly, Chief Executive of City & Guilds. 'It represents one million opportunities for individuals to showcase their skills in a secure, verifiable way that meets the demands of our increasingly digital workplace. This milestone demonstrates the trust that learners, employers, and educational institutions place in our digital certification system.'

Creating opportunities, transforming lives

For learners, digital credentials have many benefits. They can instantly access a record of their achievements via City & Guilds digital credentials online platform, which they can easily share across social media and professional networks. Credentials also come with additional security of blockchain verification.

Digital credentials also provide detailed information about the skills and competencies gained, helping learners better articulate their capabilities to potential employers.

In addition to digital credentials issued against our qualifications and apprenticeships, we also deliver credentials against an organisation’s bespoke in-house programmes to showcase excellence and recognise skills gained within the workplace.

The increasing pace of adoption

The rapid adoption of digital credentials reflects broader changes in the employment landscape. With remote work becoming mainstream and digital portfolios increasingly central to professional development, the ability to instantly verify and share qualifications has never been more crucial. In the last five years, the volume of digital credentials issued has seen exponential growth of over 1,000% over that time period, and a 20% increase in the last year. This rapid rate of adoption is set to continue.

Make sure your learners are receiving their digital credentials

To ensure learners receive their digital credentials upon successful completion of their programmes, we require training providers and colleges to share an up-to-date personal email address for your learners. This is a crucial step in enabling us to issue digital credentials efficiently and direct to the learner.

To learn more about how to upload your learners’ personal email addresses in Walled Garden, please view our short Digital credentials guide for providers.

Take advantage of this free additional benefit and make sure your learners don't miss out on this valuable opportunity.

Learn more about digital credentials with City & Guilds

Visit the Digital Credentials Support Hub for more information