Cambridge Regional College

What Cambridge Regional College does

Cambridge Regional College (CRC) is a UK Further Education institution founded in 1958, operating two campuses in the Cambridgeshire region: a primary campus at Kings Hedges Road in Milton, Cambridge, and a secondary campus at California Road in Huntingdon (which houses the dedicated Energy Training Centre). The college delivers vocational education and training across 25+ subject areas spanning engineering, business, health and social care, computing, construction, hospitality, motor vehicle, and the creative industries. Its core product portfolio comprises full-time vocational courses for 16+ learners, apprenticeship programmes, adult learner qualifications (including fully-funded Level 3 courses), higher education pathways (including Access to HE diplomas), and employer workforce training services. The college is Ofsted-rated Good and ranked #1 apprenticeship provider for employers in the region.

CRC operates a hybrid revenue model combining government-funded education (via Skills Funding Agency and Department for Education), fee-paying tuition (ranging from £30 short CPD courses to £2,583–£2,585 NVQ Diplomas), employer-funded training and apprenticeship contracts, and ancillary commercial services including The Park Restaurant and Cafe, Vitality Hair & Beauty Salon, and the Gym & Sports Centre. Go-to-market is multi-channel: open days and Results Day Advice Cafes drive consumer recruitment, dedicated Business Development Teams manage employer accounts for apprenticeship and workforce training sales, and the Cambridge Area Partnership (CAP) school network channels 14–19 students through the MyChoice@16 application system. Employer-funded training remains the most strategically distinctive revenue stream given CRC's regional apprenticeship leadership.

The technology stack is standard edtech with no proprietary AI or ML components: HubSpot powers marketing automation and CRM, TheSkillsNetwork delivers online asynchronous courses, and Smart Assessor manages electronic workplace assessment for apprentices. Operational technology and data infrastructure are functional rather than differentiating, and the college does not compete on technology. Customer concentration is distributed across individuals (16+ students, adults, international), employer accounts across multiple sectors (motor vehicle, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, electrical), and government funding bodies—mitigating single-customer dependency but leaving the institution structurally exposed to UK further education funding policy cycles.

Name

Cambridge Regional College

Legal name

Cambridge Regional College

Website

https://camre.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cambridge Regional College is a UK Further Education institution operating two Cambridgeshire campuses, delivering vocational training, apprenticeships, adult learning, and employer workforce development across 25+ subject areas to school leavers, adult learners, and regional businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education and Vocational Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Apprenticeship training
• Further education
• Adult learning
• Employer training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: Primary revenue stream from Skills Funding Agency and Department for Education funding for eligible learners. Fully-funded qualifications available for adults aged 19+ meeting residency and income criteria (below £25,000 or below £30,491 for CPCA area).
2. Tuition Fees: Fee-paying students contribute to course costs for qualifications not fully funded. Fees range from £30 for short CPD courses to £2,583-£2,585 for full NVQ Diplomas. Advanced Learner Loans available for eligible learners.
3. Employer-Funded Training: Workforce training and professional development courses funded by employers directly or through employer apprenticeship funding mechanisms. Business Development Team manages these commercial relationships.
4. Commercial Services: Public-facing services including The Park Restaurant, Gym & Sports Centre, Vitality Hair & Beauty Salon, and conferencing facilities generate additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cambridge Regional College is a Further Education college providing vocational courses, apprenticeships, adult learning programmes, higher education pathways, and employer workforce training across 25+ subject areas from Entry Level to Level 5. Instruction is delivered through two campuses (Cambridge and Huntingdon), an online learning platform, and workplace-based apprenticeship models. The college also operates public-facing training venues including a restaurant, gym, hair and beauty salon, and the Energy Training Centre.

Product overview

Cambridge Regional College is a Further Education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The college operates as a platform-plus-services model, providing: 16+ vocational courses across diverse subject areas (engineering, business, health & social care, IT, construction, hospitality, and more); Apprenticeship programs combining workplace training with college day-release; Adult learner programs including professional qualifications, online learning, and skills bootcamps; Higher Education courses and Access to HE diplomas; Employer training solutions for workforce development; and International programs including CELTA and University Foundation pathways. The college also operates public-facing services including The Park Restaurant & Cafe, The Park Gym & Sports Centre, Vitality Hair & Beauty Salon, and the Energy Training Centre, which serve both as training environments for students and amenities for the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 16+ Courses Full-time vocational and academic courses for students aged 16 and over, covering diverse subject areas including engineering, business, health & social care, computing, construction, and performing arts.
• Apprenticeships Apprenticeship programmes providing on-the-job training combined with college day-release study, spanning business, engineering, motor vehicle, catering, construction, IT, childcare, hair and beauty, and logistics.
• Adult Learner Programmes Professional training, qualifications, online learning, and skills bootcamps for adult learners seeking to upskill or change careers, including fully-funded Level 3 qualifications for eligible adults.
• Higher Education Courses University-level courses and Access to Higher Education diplomas for individuals aged 17 and over seeking degree-level qualifications.
• Employer Training & Development Workforce training solutions for businesses including apprenticeships, professional qualifications, skills bootcamps, and T Level industry placements, managed by a dedicated Business Development Team.
• International Programmes CELTA certification, University Foundation Programmes, and pre-university taster programmes for international students.
• Energy Training Centre Training facility for energy sector courses including green technology and retrofit training.
• The Park Restaurant & Cafe Public restaurant and cafe operated by culinary arts students, offering professional dining experiences to the general public.
• The Park Gym & Sports Centre Fitness and sports facilities open to the public for leisure and training purposes.
• Vitality Hair & Beauty Salon Hair and beauty salon providing services to the public while training students in beauty therapy and hairdressing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students would recommend CRC to a friend
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cambridge Area Partnership (CAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership of schools in the Cambridge area directing students to CRC through the MyChoice@16 application system. Provides pipeline of prospective students and collaborative curriculum development opportunities.
• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined authority provides funding support and strategic alignment for regional skills development. CRC delivers fully-funded qualifications for residents meeting CPCA eligibility criteria (earning below £30,491).
• Skills Funding Agency / Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing funding for eligible Further Education programmes. CRC receives public funding to deliver approved qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Activate Learning: Multi-college FE and higher education group operating across the South of England including Reading College and Guildford College. Comparable education delivery model at scale with broader geographic reach than CRC's standalone footprint.
• DN Colleges Group: Multi-campus FE college group operating Doncaster College and North Lindsey College. Comparable vocational and apprenticeship model with multi-campus scale and similar government funding dependence.

Direct peers

• Sussex Coast College: UK Further Education college in Hastings offering vocational courses, apprenticeships, and adult learning programmes. Comparable scale, curriculum breadth, and Ofsted-rated institutional profile.
• Suffolk New College: UK Further Education college in Ipswich offering full-time vocational courses, apprenticeships, and adult programmes. Comparable in scale and curriculum breadth to CRC within a neighbouring East of England region.
• West Suffolk College: UK FE college in Bury St Edmunds offering 16+ courses, apprenticeships, higher education, and adult training. Geographically and operationally adjacent to CRC, with overlapping employer markets in the East of England.
• City College Norwich: UK Further Education college in Norfolk offering vocational courses, apprenticeships, and adult learning across a comparable regional footprint. Directly comparable in size, mission, and curriculum structure to CRC.
• Peterborough College: UK FE college located in nearby Peterborough, operating under the Inspire Education Group brand. Direct regional competitor with overlapping catchment area and similar apprenticeship/employer training focus.
• Gateshead College: UK FE college in the North East delivering vocational education, apprenticeships, and T Levels. Comparable scale, employer engagement model, and government-funded revenue mix to CRC.
• New College Stamford: UK Further Education college in Lincolnshire offering full-time vocational courses, apprenticeships, and adult learning. Comparable institutional model and reliance on government funding streams.
• Colchester Institute: UK Further Education college in Essex delivering vocational, apprenticeship, and higher education programmes. Comparable scale, similar subject breadth, and similar employer-funded training model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRC_College
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq5Hr6qtvR4NxnLdnCWZK9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/CambridgeRegionalCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-regional-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/crc_college/?hl=en

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cambridge Regional College