What Hull College does

Hull College is a UK Further Education institution headquartered at Wilberforce Drive in Kingston upon Hull, operating as a not-for-profit educational provider with 1,001–5,000 employees. It delivers career-focused programmes across 25+ subject areas from Level 1 entry-level qualifications through to Master's degrees, organised under provision types including 14+ College (alternative Year 10/11 pathway), 16–18 vocational courses, Apprenticeships, Degree Level (Levels 4–7), and Phoenix Future Skills (adult education/workforce training). The college serves diverse segments — school leavers, adult learners, degree-seeking students, apprenticeship candidates, ESOL learners (refugees, asylum seekers and migrants) and SEND students — across the Hull, East Yorkshire and Humber region through a single city-centre campus plus commercial training facilities (Salon QG hair and beauty salon; Bilocca training restaurant).

Revenue mechanics are mixed and heavily regulated: full-time undergraduate tuition fees of £6,950/year (capped at £5,250/year for part-time) flow through Student Finance England loans; vocational and apprenticeship programmes are funded by ESFA further education allocations; and modest commercial income is generated through public-facing Salon QG and Bilocca plus workforce training sales via Phoenix Future Skills. Distribution operates through a direct-to-consumer model — website applications, UCAS for higher education, government apprenticeship vacancy portal, six annual open events and active school liaison — supplemented by broader marketing via social media, digital prospectus, earned PR, and a regional employer partnership pipeline (Spencer Group, Siemens Gamesa, Ufi VocTech Trust, Hull BID).

The technology stack is anchored on Microsoft 365 and Canvas LMS, with an AI-enabled differentiation centred on the 'Silent Voices, Vivid Stories' ESOL programme, which integrates Microsoft Translate, Microsoft Immersive Reader and the Spatial virtual exhibition platform to deliver AI-powered storytelling for refugee and migrant learners. The college has invested in an AI Academy delivering digital transformation training to staff, students and business partners, and operates a Six-open-event-per-year recruiting cadence supported by active TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn channels. Recent strategic milestones include the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education (2025/2026), Ofsted 'Good' (October 2023), and Educate North FE College of the Year (2024), as well as national honours (CBE, MBE, OBE) awarded to three senior leaders.

Name

Hull College

Legal name

Hull College

Website

https://hull-college.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hull College is a UK Further Education institution in Kingston upon Hull delivering vocational, apprenticeship, degree and ESOL programmes from entry level through Master's, serving school leavers, adults, apprentices, degree students and refugee/migrant learners across the Humber region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further and Higher Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Further education
• Vocational training
• Higher education
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Adult learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Full-time Higher Education: Full-time undergraduate degree programmes charging £6,950 per year. Government student finance (Tuition Fee Loan) covers costs upfront with repayment contingent on income post-graduation.
2. Tuition Fees - Part-time Higher Education: Part-time degree programmes charged at maximum £5,250 per year, distributed across the programme duration.
3. Government Further Education Funding: Government-funded vocational and apprenticeship programmes for eligible students, including 16-18 courses and adult education through Phoenix Future Skills.
4. Commercial Training Facilities: Revenue from public-facing commercial operations including Salon QG hair and beauty salon and Bilocca training restaurant, offering services at competitive prices while providing student training environments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hull College is a UK Further Education institution delivering vocational, technical and professional qualifications from entry level through to Master's degree. The college offers 14+ College programmes for Year 10-11 students, 16-18 vocational courses, apprenticeships, higher education degrees (HNC, HND, Foundation, Honours and Master's), and adult education through Phoenix Future Skills. It also operates commercial training facilities — Salon QG (hair and beauty) and Bilocca (training restaurant) — and runs specialised programmes such as the AI-enabled Silent Voices, Vivid Stories ESOL initiative for refugees and migrants.

Product overview

Hull College operates as a further and higher education institution offering a diverse portfolio of educational programmes and commercial training facilities. The core educational offerings include 14+ College for secondary school students, 16-18 vocational courses, Apprenticeships, and Degree Level programmes (HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees, Masters). Phoenix Future Skills serves as the adult education sub-brand delivering workforce training and upskilling. The college runs two commercial training facilities: Salon QG (hair and beauty training salon) and Bilocca Training Restaurant. The institution has gained national recognition for its AI-enabled Silent Voices, Vivid Stories ESOL programme and its AI Academy for digital skills development. The Hullraiser identity represents the college's staff and student community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 14+ College
• 16-18 Courses
• Apprenticeships
• Degree Level Courses
• Phoenix Future Skills
• Silent Voices, Vivid Stories
• AI Academy
• Salon QG
• Bilocca Training Restaurant

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of students would recommend Hull College
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Spencer GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Spencer Group participated in Learning at Work Week, organising themed activities for employees including webinars and training sessions delivered by Phoenix Future Skills from Hull College. Partnership supports employee learning and development initiatives.
• Coyle Health & WellbeingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Partner delivering professional development webinars as part of Spencer Group's Learning at Work Week activities alongside Phoenix Future Skills.
• Ufi VocTech TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder supporting the award-winning Silent Voices, Vivid Stories ESOL programme that uses AI-enabled storytelling and translation technology to support refugee and migrant learners.
• Hull BIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHull Business Improvement District collaborating with Hull College Art and Design students on a city centre art trail celebrating student creativity.
• HEY! VolunteeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on 'Locked Out: The Day the Jobs Disappeared' digital escape room project shortlisted for Educate North Game-Changing Education Award.
• Siemens GamesaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Sykes, Plant Director at Siemens Gamesa, awarded Order of Distinction. Company is a key player in Hull's renewable energy sector with close ties to education providers for developing future talent.
• Educate North AwardsminorOthersAwards body recognising excellence across Northern education institutions. Hull College shortlisted in multiple categories including College of the Year and AI Academy recognition.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Newcastle College: Part of the NCG group, Newcastle College is a large regional FE college providing full-time, apprenticeship and HE programmes. Directly comparable in scale, mission and funding model to Hull College.
• Middlesbrough College: North East England FE college of broadly comparable scale, offering a mix of vocational, apprenticeship and higher education programmes. Similar employer-linked training model and reliance on regional industrial economy.
• Nottingham College: Mid-sized regional FE college delivering FE, HE, apprenticeships and adult education. Comparable in mission, course architecture and reliance on UK government funding streams.
• Bradford College: Northern further education college with similar HE/FE/apprenticeship portfolio and similar demographic focus on school leavers and adult learners. Comparable size and recent Ofsted trajectory to Hull College.
• City of Liverpool College: Large urban FE college in the North of England offering a comparable portfolio of vocational, apprenticeship, A-Level and higher education courses. Similar single-city catchment model and demographic profile.
• Leeds City College: Large regional further education college in Yorkshire offering vocational, A-Level, apprenticeship and degree-level provision. Most direct UK FE peer to Hull College by mission, geography, course mix and employer partnership model.
• Sheffield College: Large Yorkshire-based FE college delivering 16-18, adult, apprenticeship and HE provision with similar commercial training facilities. Closely comparable in course breadth, scale and regional employer focus.

Broad incumbents

• The Manchester College: One of the largest FE colleges in the UK and part of the LTE Group, offering a much wider geographic footprint and broader portfolio than Hull College. Comparable core FE/HE/apprenticeship offer but at materially larger scale.
• Kaplan UK: International education and training provider with significant UK operations delivering higher education, professional training and apprenticeship programmes. Comparable on degree-level, professional and apprenticeship delivery but operates as a private commercial group.
• BPP University: Private higher education institution focused on professional and vocational courses including accountancy, law and healthcare. Overlaps with Hull College on degree-level provision and employer-funded training, but operates as a private, fee-driven HE provider rather than a regional FE college.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HullCollegeGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/hullcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hullcollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/hullcollegegroup
• TikToktiktok.com/@hull.college
• Xx.com/hullcollegegrp

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hull College