london training (at the british guild of tourist guides)
London
Fun, informative and professional tourist guides in London, England, Wales,
Scotland and NI. All our members are qualified Blue Badge Guides - the gold
standard of tourist guiding. The Guild is the national professional association
for Blue and Green Badge Tourist Guides working throughout the British Isles,
including the Isle of Man and Jersey. With around 800 full members and a network
of regional and local associations with nearly 1,000 members holding group
membership, the Guild represents around 1,800 guides. Its members offer guiding
in 34 different languages. They are listed in the Guide Search facility. Since
its foundation in 1950, the Guild has been dedicated to raising and maintaining
the highest professional standards of its membership. The Blue and Green Badge
is recognised internationally as the qualification of excellence in site and
heritage interpretation, and in communication skills. It is awarded only
following extensive training and vigorous examination. The Guild is run by an
Executive Council, elected by the membership, and salaried office staff, and
provides support and advice to its members on both policy and all issues
covering guide services, sites, coach operators and health & safety. The members
are kept up-to-date with weekly e-bulletins and regular newsletters packed with
informative articles and updates on guiding-related issues; monthly diaries
listing major events, opening times and admission prices; access to an extensive
Continuing Professional Development programme. Guild members are covered under
public liability insurance, which provides annual cover up to £5million. A copy
of the policy is kept at Guild House and the office staff can assist with any
enquiries you have as to extent of cover, which includes cover whilst on tour
anywhere in the world. As a highly respected organisation within the tourism
industry the Guild is without political bias. It acts as a pressure group and
consultative body on all matters concerning guiding. The Guild is a member of
European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) and the World Federation
of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). FEG’s new YouTube channel can be found
here
