The Trust’s origins go back to 1887, when the London Chamber of Commerce opened its Commercial Education Department overseen by the then Commercial Education Committee. This became The London Chamber of Commerce Commercial Education Scheme in 1967, when the Committee decided to seek charitable status for this activity. In 1989 the Scheme was incorporated as London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commercial Education Trust.
Over the years, the LCCI Examinations Board, originally set up by the Chamber, became a symbol of business expertise and success throughout the world and the leading international body awarding qualifications for business in a range of subject areas such as financial management, information technology, company secretarial practice, marketing and English language capabilities. It became the third largest body awarding National Vocational Qualifications.
In more recent times fundamental changes have taken place in the market for business-related qualifications and examinations requiring a significant investment to meet the growth in the market opportunity and offer the new technologies essential to remaining competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Against this background the then Trustees concluded that it was in the best interests of the Trust to seek a partner and in December 2002 the Trust disposed of the LCCI Examinations Board to Education Development International plc, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market and in which the Trust initially held a substantial percentage of the issued equity capital. Subsequently, this was sold and the Trust is now exclusively a grant-giving charity.
Although strong links remain with The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which appoints the Trustees, the Chamber has no control over the assets or management of the Trust.