EKC Group
EKC Group (East Kent Colleges Group) is a private further education provider operating six community-based colleges and nine training centres across East Kent, England, serving over 14,000 students and approximately 1,600 staff with academic, vocational, T Level, apprenticeship, adult learning, and commercial hospitality programmes, generating roughly £65m annual turnover.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBroadstairs, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What EKC Group does
EKC Group (legal name: East Kent Colleges Group) is a private further education provider operating a family of six community-based colleges and nine adult training centres across East Kent, England, headquartered in Broadstairs. The portfolio comprises EKC Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, and Sheppey Colleges, alongside EKC Training for apprenticeships and adult learning, EKC Schools Trust (a Multi Academy Trust covering primary and secondary schools), EKC Nurseries, and The Yarrow, an award-winning four-star training hotel in Broadstairs. Together these entities serve over 14,000 students from nursery age through Higher Education, delivering academic, vocational, T Level, apprenticeship, and adult learning programmes.
The Group's product mix spans 16-19 vocational pathways, 19+ adult courses (Access to HE, ESOL, creative arts, construction, engineering, health and care), Apprenticeships across construction, engineering, business administration, and hospitality, T Levels with mandated 45-day employer placements in routes including Accounting, Content Creation, Digital, Engineering, and Health, plus commercial services such as venue hire (£27.50/hour or £200/day for classrooms, with bespoke pricing on halls and auditoriums) and The Yarrow hospitality training hotel. Technical facilities include VR-enabled immersive classrooms, professional recording studios, and Kent's second-largest motion capture suite at the new Margate Digital Campus, supporting creative pathway delivery including animation and illustration.
EKC Group's revenue model is dominated by government funding for further and higher education provision, supplemented by apprenticeship co-funding from employers, commercial facility hire, and hospitality revenue from The Yarrow. The Group states annual turnover of approximately £65m. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer recruitment of students (16-19, adults, HE) through college websites, open days, and careers fairs; alongside B2B employer engagement through 25 Memoranda of Understanding covering apprenticeships, T Level industry placements, work experience, and curriculum co-development. The Group employs 1,600+ colleagues across 160+ roles and is led by CEO Graham Razey (per the company's leadership page), with Lucy McLeod as Chief Further and Higher Education Officer. The organisation is the first General Further Education college group to attain Outstanding ratings across all Ofsted categories under the new enhanced inspection framework.
EKC Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EKC Group
- Legal name
- East Kent Colleges Group
- Website
- https://ekcgroup.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EKC Group (East Kent Colleges Group) is a private further education provider operating six community-based colleges and nine training centres across East Kent, England, serving over 14,000 students and approximately 1,600 staff with academic, vocational, T Level, apprenticeship, adult learning, and commercial hospitality programmes, generating roughly £65m annual turnover.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EKC Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI), Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH), Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)
Keywords
Where EKC Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Broadstairs
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices11 records
Markets served
EKC Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Education: Core revenue from government funding for further and higher education provision, including 14,000+ students across six colleges and nine training centres. The Group turns over approximately £65m per annum.
- Facility Hire: Revenue from hiring college facilities including classrooms, halls, studios, and sports facilities to external organizations. Classroom hire is priced at £27.50 per hour or £200 per day with discounts for multiple bookings and stakeholders.
- Commercial Hospitality - The Yarrow Hotel: Award-winning four-star training hotel in Broadstairs generating revenue while providing hospitality training for students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Classroom hire - £27.50 per hour or £200 per day |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Larger venues (Main Hall, Auditorium) - Bespoke pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
EKC Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EKC Group operates six community-based further education colleges and nine adult training centres across East Kent, delivering academic and vocational qualifications from Entry Level to Higher Education, T Levels, apprenticeships, and adult learning programmes to over 14,000 students. The Group also runs commercial services including The Yarrow training hotel, facility hire, and EKC Schools Trust (Multi Academy Trust), generating approximately £65 million in annual turnover from government-funded education and employer partnerships.
Product overview
EKC Group (East Kent Colleges Group) is a family of six community-based further education colleges across East Kent (Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, and Sheppey), plus nine adult training centres. The portfolio includes EKC Training for apprenticeships and adult education, EKC Schools Trust (Multi Academy Trust), EKC Nurseries, and The Yarrow Hotel (training facility). Together they serve over 14,000 students from nursery age through to Higher Education, offering academic and vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and adult learning programmes. The Group also operates commercial services including venue hire and operates as a major employer with over 1,600 staff and circa £65m annual turnover.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EKC Ashford College Further education college in Ashford, Kent providing high-quality academic and vocational courses within a supportive learning environment. Also houses the EKC Plumbing and Electrical Training Centre. Achieved Ofsted Outstanding rating.
- EKC Broadstairs College
- EKC Canterbury College
- EKC Dover College
- EKC Folkestone College
- EKC Sheppey College
- EKC Training
- EKC Schools Trust
- EKC Nurseries
- The Yarrow Hotel
- T Levels
- Apprenticeships
- EKC Training Adult Courses
- Venue and Facility Hire
Quantifiable outcome
- First GFE college group to achieve Outstanding rating in all Ofsted categories
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EKC Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EKC Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EKC Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Thanet District CouncilcoreLocal council partnership for Margate Digital Campus as part of Thanet District Council Regeneration Programme. UK Government funded project creating 2,000 sqm of creative training space.
- A+C StudioscoreMargate-based stop-motion animation studio. Sector-leading partnership with EKC Group to shape curriculum and develop brand-new Animation and Illustration qualification at Margate Digital Campus.
- BauvillminorMain contractor covering South East and London region with expertise in health, commercial, education, and facilities sectors. MoU with EKC Ashford College to build sustainable talent pipeline and shape curriculum.
- Wire Belt LtdcoreGlobal engineering company (family-owned, founded 1962) producing steel mesh belting under Flat-Flex trade name. MoU signed with EKC Sheppey College to deliver high-quality training, learning, and employment opportunities for students in manufacturing and engineering.
- University for the Creative Arts (UCA)coreUniversity with Canterbury campus focusing on architecture, spatial design, fine art, and visual communications. MoU with EKC Canterbury College to enrich student learning experience and provide progression pathways.
- Runway TrainingminorIndependent training provider operating across Sussex, Kent, and South East offering online training on functional skills, leadership, management, apprenticeships, and traineeships. MoU with EKC Group for knowledge sharing and resource optimisation.
- Everon UKminorOrganisation delivering innovative digital living solutions for independent living. MoU with EKC Ashford College to introduce students to assistive living technology using AI and machine learning.
- Walker ConstructioncoreConstruction company working across rail, infrastructure, water, highways, MoD, healthcare, education, housing, and commercial property. MoU with EKC Canterbury College to provide apprenticeship opportunities, T Level placements, and career pathways for students.
- WW MartincoreConstruction company with flagship Employment, Apprenticeship, and Training Programme (EATP). Five-year partnership supporting apprenticeships and Work Ready Programme workshops. Near EKC Broadstairs College campuses for site visits and work experience.
- Willmott DixonminorConstruction and infrastructure company. Listed among MoU partners for supporting next generation of skilled professionals.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EKC Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Solihull College & University Centre: Mid-sized FE college offering vocational, A Level, apprenticeship, and higher education provision. Comparable as a community-based college with employer engagement and T Level delivery.
- South Thames Colleges Group: FE college group comprising South Thames College and Kingston College. Similar multi-college structure, mixed academic/vocational curriculum, and employer engagement model to EKC's community college portfolio.
- London South East Colleges: Multi-campus FE college group in South East London and Kent border areas. Operates Bromley, Bexley, and Greenwich colleges with apprenticeships, T Levels, and adult learning — directly overlapping EKC's East Kent catchment and product mix.
- Loughborough College Group: FE college group in the East Midlands with multiple sites. Comparable multi-college structure, vocational and apprenticeship focus, and Ofsted-rated provision overlapping with EKC's operating model.
- Capital City College Group: One of the largest UK FE college groups, formed via merger of London colleges. Comparable as a multi-site FE group delivering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, T Levels, and adult education across London — directly overlapping with EKC's operating model.
- BMet (Birmingham Metropolitan College): Multi-campus FE college serving the West Midlands with vocational, apprenticeship, and adult education. Comparable as a community-based college group with similar curriculum breadth, employer partnerships, and demographic challenges.
- NHC Group (North Hertfordshire College): FE college group including North Hertfordshire College and Hart Learning & Development. Comparable structure offering further education, apprenticeships, and employer-led training across multiple sites in a defined region.
- New City College Group: London-based further education college group formed from a merger of multiple community colleges. Highly comparable as a multi-college FE group serving diverse communities with vocational, apprenticeship, and adult learning provision across multiple sites.
Emerging players
- Lifetime Training: UK independent training provider focused on apprenticeships and adult learning, particularly in health, childcare, and professional sectors. Comparable on apprenticeship delivery model and employer engagement, though operating without physical college campuses.
- Runway Training: Independent training provider across Sussex, Kent, and South East delivering apprenticeships, functional skills, and management training. Direct geographic overlap with EKC; EKC has an MoU with Runway for knowledge sharing, signalling peer relationship.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EKC Group social profiles
Digital presenceEKC Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
EKC Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EKC Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
EKC Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
EKC Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EKC Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EKC Group
What does EKC Group do?
EKC Group operates six community-based further education colleges and nine adult training centres across East Kent, delivering academic and vocational qualifications from Entry Level to Higher Education, T Levels, apprenticeships, and adult learning programmes to over 14,000 students. The Group also runs commercial services including The Yarrow training hotel, facility hire, and EKC Schools Trust (Multi Academy Trust), generating approximately £65 million in annual turnover from government-funded education and employer partnerships.
Is EKC Group a public or private company?
EKC Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was EKC Group founded?
EKC Group was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EKC Group based?
EKC Group is headquartered in Broadstairs, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does EKC Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Education is the primary driver. The others are facility Hire and commercial Hospitality - The Yarrow Hotel.
Who are EKC Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Solihull College & University Centre, South Thames Colleges Group, London South East Colleges, Loughborough College Group, Capital City College Group, BMet (Birmingham Metropolitan College), NHC Group (North Hertfordshire College) and New City College Group. Emerging players are Lifetime Training and Runway Training.
Does EKC Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for EKC Group.
What industry is EKC Group in?
EKC Group's product category is Further Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAG, Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit), with a secondary code of EDABALAI, Education & Training Providers. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.