Blue Badge tourist guide
Encyclopedia
Blue Badge Tourist Guides are the official, professional tourist guides of the United Kingdom. They wear a Blue Badge to indicate their professionalism. They are recognised by local tourist bodies throughout the UK, and by Visit Britain as Britain’s official tourist guides. There are over 2000 Blue Badge guides in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, who guide at Britain's tourist attractions and cities. Some guides runs guided walking tours on themes such as Jack the Ripper
, Harry Potter
and The Beatles. They are responsible for the regular 2012 Summer Olympics
walking tours and are the guides for the summertime public tours inside the Houses of Parliament.
in Southwark.
In 1980, eighty guides formed a union for London Blue Badge guides. The APTG - Association of Professional Tourist Guides - has 470 members.
In 1985 the Driver Guides Association was founded by Blue Badge Guides who provide private car tours across the UK.
In 1996, the Scottish Tourist Guides Association was formed as membership association for professional tourist guides, and the accrediting body for Blue Badge and Green Badge Guides in Scotland.
In 2002 the Institute of Tourist Guiding
was formed. It is responsible for the examination and registration of Blue Badge and Green Badge guides in England and Wales.
In 2005 Blue Badge guides in England and Wales starting offering cycle tours for groups and individuals
When working guides wear the Blue Badge which bears a symbol identifying the part of the country they are qualified for:
In 2011 there are more than 2000 guides in the UK and around 500 in London. Over 500 of these are in Scotland.
Several Blue Badge guides have been awarded the MBE
and OBE for services to tourism.
The Institute of Tourist Guiding
sets a standard, examines and accredits guides in England. In Scotland, the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) sets the standards and accredits all the training courses. All Blue Badge guides must pass the Institute's exams or the STGA's exams. They study for up to two years at universtity level, taking a comprehensive series of written and practical exams which qualify them to become Blue Badge Tourist Guides.
The institute also sets standard for guides to work in foreign languages. There are Blue Badge guides working in most major languages, including French, Italian, Greek, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish and Spanish.
In Scotland Blue Badge Tourist Guides are national guides, while Green Badge ones are regional. In England, a Green Badge Guide is qualified to work in a specified area such as a city - for example the City of London
Guides.
Ed Glinert, the author of The London Compendium and The Manchester Compendium, is a Green Badge guide to the city of Manchester.
.
In 1995 the Guild changed its name to become The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides. The Guild helps tourists and visitors to find guides in the UK.
The Guild is the national membership organisation for trained professional guides in the UK. It has 1,755 guide members throughout the UK and 523 in London. There are 33 languages currently spoken by guide members. All members of the organisation must be fully trained and insured.
Training courses to become a blue badge guide in Scotland take place every two years through University of Edinburgh
. Information about the training course can be found here
The STGA are members of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and European Federation of Tourist Guides
Blue Badge guides on BBC Radio and TV:
Blue Badge Guides in national newspapers:
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
, Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
and The Beatles. They are responsible for the regular 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
walking tours and are the guides for the summertime public tours inside the Houses of Parliament.
History of the Blue Badge
The Blue Badge was founded in 1950 by seven guides who met at the George InnThe George Inn, Southwark
The George, or George Inn, is a public house established in the medieval period on Borough High Street in Southwark, London. Currently owned and leased by the National Trust, it is located on the south side of the River Thames near London Bridge. It is the only surviving galleried London coaching...
in Southwark.
In 1980, eighty guides formed a union for London Blue Badge guides. The APTG - Association of Professional Tourist Guides - has 470 members.
In 1985 the Driver Guides Association was founded by Blue Badge Guides who provide private car tours across the UK.
In 1996, the Scottish Tourist Guides Association was formed as membership association for professional tourist guides, and the accrediting body for Blue Badge and Green Badge Guides in Scotland.
In 2002 the Institute of Tourist Guiding
Institute of Tourist Guiding
The Institute of Tourist Guiding was formed in 2002 as an English professional body.It was formed with the approval of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry to encourage professionalism in – and raising the status of – the guiding sector...
was formed. It is responsible for the examination and registration of Blue Badge and Green Badge guides in England and Wales.
In 2005 Blue Badge guides in England and Wales starting offering cycle tours for groups and individuals
When working guides wear the Blue Badge which bears a symbol identifying the part of the country they are qualified for:
- London Blue Badge Guides: Tower Bridge
- The Scottish Blue Badge Guides: Thistle & St Andrews Cross
- The Heart of England Blue Badge Guides (and other English regions): The English Rose
- The Welsh Blue Badge Guides: Welsh Dragon
- The Northern Ireland Blue Badge Guides: Shamrock
In 2011 there are more than 2000 guides in the UK and around 500 in London. Over 500 of these are in Scotland.
Several Blue Badge guides have been awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
and OBE for services to tourism.
The Blue Badge Qualification
Depending on which country you wish to guide in, there are different options available.The Institute of Tourist Guiding
Institute of Tourist Guiding
The Institute of Tourist Guiding was formed in 2002 as an English professional body.It was formed with the approval of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry to encourage professionalism in – and raising the status of – the guiding sector...
sets a standard, examines and accredits guides in England. In Scotland, the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) sets the standards and accredits all the training courses. All Blue Badge guides must pass the Institute's exams or the STGA's exams. They study for up to two years at universtity level, taking a comprehensive series of written and practical exams which qualify them to become Blue Badge Tourist Guides.
The institute also sets standard for guides to work in foreign languages. There are Blue Badge guides working in most major languages, including French, Italian, Greek, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish and Spanish.
Green Badge Guides
As well as the Blue Badge, the Institute of Tourist Guiding oversees further levels of qualification for tourist guides.In Scotland Blue Badge Tourist Guides are national guides, while Green Badge ones are regional. In England, a Green Badge Guide is qualified to work in a specified area such as a city - for example the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
Guides.
Ed Glinert, the author of The London Compendium and The Manchester Compendium, is a Green Badge guide to the city of Manchester.
The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides was founded in London 1950. Originally known as The Guild of Guide Lecturers, the first London guides were trained by the British Travel and Holidays Association to show visitors a capital recovering from the ravages of war; in particular for tourists coming to London in 1951 to visit The Festival of BritainFestival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
.
In 1995 the Guild changed its name to become The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides. The Guild helps tourists and visitors to find guides in the UK.
The Guild is the national membership organisation for trained professional guides in the UK. It has 1,755 guide members throughout the UK and 523 in London. There are 33 languages currently spoken by guide members. All members of the organisation must be fully trained and insured.
Scottish Tourist Guides Association
Scottish Tourist Guides Association was created as a Company limited by Guarantee (Company No. SC167477) in 1996 and has a Board of Voluntary Directors, and four professional staff. In addition to the training and accreditation activities, the STGA ensures that all of their guides are fully insured with Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. They also have a booking service to help clients find a guide to suit their requirements.Training courses to become a blue badge guide in Scotland take place every two years through University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. Information about the training course can be found here
The STGA are members of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and European Federation of Tourist Guides
Blue Badge Tourist Guides in Media.
Blue Badge Guides frequently appear in the media, on television, radio and in newspapers. Many guides are also authors and journalists.Blue Badge guides on BBC Radio and TV:
- Scottish Blue Badge Guide, Barbara Millar talks about Dundee, the McManus Gallery and other 'lady journalists'.
- Blue badge guide Josephine King talks about the setting of du Maurier's most famous novel, 'Rebecca', with the novelist Celia Brayfield and Fiona Clampin
- Guide Vicky Wood talks about TyburnTyburnTyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
on Law in Action (BBC Radio 4) - Jonathan Schofield, Blue Badge guide and editor of Manchester Confidential talks to BBC Manchester about the Peterloo MassacrePeterloo MassacreThe Peterloo Massacre occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 that had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation....
- Ian Jelf talks to the BBC about his special walk to offer a glimpse of medieval Shrewsbury.
Blue Badge Guides in national newspapers:
- Simon Rodway talks about film tours to the Daily Telegraph
- The Telegraph talks to Allan Brigham, who went from Cambridge street sweeper to one of the city’s most popular tour guides.
External links
- http://www.itg.org.uk/
- http://www.hetga.co.uk/