About CET

Learn more about the company and the team behind it.

We believe that excellent Commercial Ability is what will enable our young people to survive and thrive in the workplace, and we support some of the country's most innovative charities and organisations in developing and refining their initiatives to help supplement the amazing work being done in our schools.

We are, first and foremost, a grant-giving organisation. To date, we have given over £3.3 million of grants to further our vision of a future where people in the UK actively understand and learn the skills, attitudes, and behaviours they need to gain and thrive in a fulfilling career.

About CET

The history of the Commercial Education Trust

1887

The London Chamber of Commerce appoints a Commercial Education Committee to address the skills crisis: clerks are insufficiently well-educated for key jobs in the City of London.

The Commercial Education Department of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry ('LCCI') was established.

The Chamber becomes an established examining body with an international reputation and examinations centres in over eighty countries.

1967

The London Chamber of Commerce Commercial Education Scheme was reconstituted as a charity.

In addition to growing its own examinations the LCCI Examinations Board becomes the third largest body awarding National Vocational Qualifications in financial management, IT, company secretarial practice, marketing and English.

1989

The Scheme was incorporated as the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commercial Education Trust ('CET').

2002

The LCCI Examinations Board is sold to Education Development International plc (EDI) and CET becomes a grant-making charity.

Since 2002, we have given more than £3.3 million in grants.

2002

The LCCI Examinations Board is sold to Education Development International plc (EDI) and CET becomes a grant-making charity.

Since 2002, we have given more than £3.3 million in grants.

2014

Launch of CET's Commercial Education Lecture series with speaker Sir Harvey McGrath.

Alison Wolf, Baroness Wolf of Dulwich and Sherry Coutu CBE give keynote Commercial Education lectures in subsequent years.

2017

Milestone of £3 million in grant awards is achieved.

2023

CET develops its Impact Framework and concentrates the delivery of its mission around the development and furtherance of Commercial Ability.

CET | Commercial Ability Trust

We believe that excellent Commercial Ability is what will enable our young people to survive and thrive in the workplace, and we support some of the country's most innovative charities and organisations in developing and refining their initiatives to help supplement the amazing work being done in our schools.

Discover Commercial Ability
  • CET Dots

    Who we are

    CET is a grant-making charitable trust that exists to help embed excellent Commercial Ability in every young person as a target outcome of our education system.

    About CET
  • CET Dots

    What we do

    We fund a range of organisations supporting the development, dissemination and embedding of Commercial Ability.

    Our Stakeholders
  • CET Dots

    Our funding

    We award between 3-5 grants a year of varying sizes in support of our goals.

    Our Grants
Insights

Latest insights

Celebrating Leadership and Commercial Ability at CET’s 2025 Networking Reception
News

Celebrating Leadership and Commercial Ability at CET’s 2025 Networking Reception

CET celebrates the 2025 David Coughtrie Leadership Award winners for outstanding leadership and Commercial Ability at the annual Networking Reception.
Celebrating Leadership and Commercial Ability at CET’s 2025 Networking Reception
David Coughtrie
October 16, 2025
Latest News From CET
News

Latest News From CET

Hear the latest news from CET including our small grants funding, recent award from our main grants programme and save the date for our next event.
Latest News From CET
Grace Cole
July 15, 2025
Closing the Organisational Know-How Gap: Reflections from Our Roundtable
Blog

Closing the Organisational Know-How Gap: Reflections from Our Roundtable

This blog introduces the CET Organisational Know-How Roundtable Report, exploring how employers and educators can make workplace expectations clearer and more inclusive. It highlights the need to address the "invisible curriculum" that can hold young people back and shares practical recommendations for action.
Closing the Organisational Know-How Gap: Reflections from Our Roundtable
Mahad Ali
July 3, 2025
We support some of country's leading educational charities and causes