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Blue Badge
Tourist Guides throughout the
United Kingdom
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The national professional association for Blue Badge Tourist Guides
with members in every part of Britain
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The Guild is the national professional association for Blue Badge Tourist Guides working throughout the British Isles, including the Isle of Man and Jersey. With around 700 full members and a network of regional and local associations with nearly 1,000 members holding group membership, the Guild represents around 1,700 guides. Its members offer guiding in 34 different languages. They are listed in the Guide Search facillity.
Since its foundation in 1950, the Guild has been dedicated to raising and maintaining the highest professional standards of its membership. The Blue 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 Guide Post, a monthly newsletter packed with informative articles and updates on guiding-related issues; Guides’ Guide, an annual gazetteer; 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. Members of the industry who become one of our preferred partners receive monthly information on events and openings, plus a variety of initiatives – for details phone our office on 020 7403 1115.
The Guild is a member of the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG), which acts to bring together and strengthen professional tourist guiding links and standards across Europe, and the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), the international forum for tourist guides.
The Guild devotes major resources to guide training in its role as a Training Provider accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. It is currently running two courses for Blue Badge Guides in London (41 trainees) and the Heart of England (20 trainees). A second London course is due to start in September 2007 and further courses are planned.
Due to its extensive experience of training, the Guild played a major role in the creation of the Institute of Tourist Guiding in 2002. The Institute is a government-recognised body responsible for setting standards within the tourist guiding sector. It accredits training courses and sets examinations for entry into all levels of the profession and is also the registering authority for Blue Badge Tourist Guides in the United Kingdom (except Scotland). Guild members sit on the member-elected body of trustees.
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Guild Home Page
Use a Blue Badge Tourist Guide to make the best of your visit
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The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
The Guild House, 52d Borough High Street, London, SE1 1XN
Tel: 020-7403 1115 . Fax: 020-7378 1705
E-mail: guild@blue-badge.org.uk
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Fees | Guide Training | Guide Search | About the Guild | History of the Guild | Home Page | ITGDay | Join The Guild | Links
Links to Guides | Publications | Regions | Driver-Guides | Why Use a Guide | Training | Events | Press Releases
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