EKC Group

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.

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

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

• Further education
• Vocational training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Adult learning
• Technical qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Broadstairs

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Commercial Hospitality - The Yarrow Hotel: Award-winning four-star training hotel in Broadstairs generating revenue while providing hospitality training for students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thanet District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Local 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 StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Margate-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.
• BauvillminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Main 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 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Global 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025University 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 TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Independent 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 UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Organisation 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 ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Construction 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 MartincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025Construction 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 DixonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction and infrastructure company. Listed among MoU partners for supporting next generation of skilled professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ekc__group
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EKCGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/18462845

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries9 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 EKC Group