City of Portsmouth College

What City of Portsmouth College does

City of Portsmouth College is a UK further education institution formed in 2022 from the merger of Highbury College and Portsmouth College, operating across four Portsmouth campuses (Arundel, Highbury, North Harbour, and a dedicated Sixth Form campus). It delivers academic and vocational qualifications including A Levels, T Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, Access to Higher Education, and GCSEs and Functional Skills, alongside commercial training for employers (gas, refrigeration, air conditioning) and community-facing facilities such as Honeypot Nursery, Sports Centre, and Retreat Salons. The college also provides dedicated SEND provision, ESOL courses, King's Trust programmes, and distance and online learning pathways.

The core technology stack is conventional educational infrastructure: a Student Hub portal for enrolled students, online and distance learning platforms, a Student Devices programme, and a 360° virtual campus tour delivered through a partnership with Compass 360 Tours. There is no evidence of proprietary AI, ML, or data-driven product capability. Digital channels (website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, email newsletter) support student recruitment alongside traditional open events and prospectus distribution.

The business model is primarily government-funded: ESFA grants cover 16-19 education and apprenticeships, supplemented by Advanced Learner Loans and fee-based adult education courses, plus fee-paying commercial training for local Portsmouth employers. The college is structured as a company limited by guarantee with no parent entity, governed by a Board of Governors, and holds Ofsted Good Provider status. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but the institution's scale (251-500 employees, four campuses, hundreds of courses) is consistent with a mid-sized UK further education college operating in the tens of millions of pounds annually.

Name

City of Portsmouth College

Legal name

City of Portsmouth College

Website

https://city-of-portsmouth-college.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

City of Portsmouth College is a UK further education institution formed in 2022 from the merger of Highbury College and Portsmouth College, delivering A Levels, T Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, and commercial training across four Portsmouth campuses to school leavers, adult learners, and local employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Community Colleges (EDAHADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Further education college
• Vocational training programmes
• Apprenticeship training
• Adult learning courses
• Technical qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: Primary revenue from government funding for 16-19 education, apprenticeships, and adult education programs. Funded by UK Government as indicated by their logo and Ofsted registration.
2. Advanced Learner Loans: Adult learners (19+) can access government-backed loans through the Advanced Learner Loan program to fund their education, similar to higher education tuition fee model.
3. Commercial Training for Employers: Fee-paying commercial training programs for local businesses including gas training, refrigeration and air conditioning, and other professional development courses.
4. Adult Education Fees: Fee-based courses for adult learners (19+) including hobby and leisure courses, GCSEs, functional skills, and professional qualifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

City of Portsmouth College is a further education institution offering A Levels, T Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, and Access to Higher Education programmes to school leavers and adult learners across four Portsmouth campuses. It also provides commercial training for local employers, distance and online learning, ESOL, GCSEs and Functional Skills, King's Trust programmes, SEND provision, and community facilities including a nursery, sports centre, and salons.

Product overview

City of Portsmouth College is a further education institution offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services across four campuses (Arundel, Highbury, North Harbour, and Sixth Form). The core offering consists of academic and vocational qualifications including A Levels, T Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, and higher education programmes. Supporting services include commercial training for employers, distance and online learning options, ESOL courses, GCSEs and Functional Skills, King's Trust programmes, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision. The college also operates community facilities including Honeypot Nursery, Sports Centre, and Retreat Salons, along with a 360° virtual tour service for prospective students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Levels Two-year academic qualifications for school leavers (typically 16-18) providing entry to higher education, delivered primarily at the dedicated Sixth Form campus.
• T Levels Two-year technical qualifications combining classroom learning with industry placements, designed to prepare students for skilled employment or higher-level study.
• Vocational Diplomas Practical, work-related qualifications across various subjects including BTEC diplomas for school leavers and adult learners.
• Apprenticeships Work-based training programmes at levels 2 and 3 allowing learners to earn while they learn across various trades and sectors, delivered in partnership with local employers.
• Access to Higher Education Qualifications Advanced qualifications designed for adult learners to gain entry to university, particularly for those without traditional A Level routes.
• Commercial Training for Employers Fee-paying professional development and training services for local employers, including specialist courses in gas training and assessment, refrigeration, and air conditioning.
• Distance Learning Flexible online courses allowing adult learners to study remotely at their own pace, accessible across the UK.
• Online Learning Digital learning options for adult learners seeking flexible education pathways, delivered through online platforms.
• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) English language courses designed for non-native speakers to improve their English language proficiency.
• GCSEs and Functional Skills Core subject qualifications for adult learners needing to improve their English, mathematics, or other fundamental skills.
• King's Trust Programmes Employment and skills training programmes for young people aged 16-30 facing barriers to education or employment.
• SEND Provision Specialised educational support and adapted courses for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
• Hobby and Leisure Courses Community-based learning opportunities for personal interest and skill development, available to adults across the Portsmouth area.
• Honeypot Nursery On-site nursery providing childcare services for students, staff, and the local community, also serving as a real-world training environment for early years learners.
• Sports Centre Fitness and sports facilities available to students and community members, supporting both student wellbeing and public use.
• Retreat Salons Beauty salon facilities providing professional treatments to the public while serving as real-world training environments for beauty and hairdressing students.

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Colleges (AoC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association membership providing advocacy, resources, and best practices for further education colleges in the UK.
• Disability Confident EmployercoreOthersGovernment scheme demonstrating commitment to employing, developing, and retaining people with disabilities. College has achieved Disability Confident Employer status.
• Portsmouth AmbassadorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal initiative promoting Portsmouth as a great place to live, work, and visit. Partnership supports community engagement and local identity.
• Shaping PortsmouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal economic development organization working to shape Portsmouth's future. Partnership supports community and economic initiatives.
• Armed Forces CovenantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitment to supporting armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families through employment opportunities and educational access. Signed covenant pledge.
• WorldSkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational skills competition program. College participates in WorldSkills UK competitions, providing students with opportunities to compete at national levels in vocational skills.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fareham College: Hampshire-based general further education college offering a comparable mix of academic, vocational, and apprenticeship programmes to school leavers and adult learners in close proximity to Portsmouth. Directly competes for the same regional learner pool and employer training contracts.
• Eastleigh College: Hampshire general FE college offering A Levels, vocational qualifications, T Levels, and apprenticeships across similar learner segments. Operates within commuting distance of Portsmouth and competes for the same 16-18 and adult learner catchment.
• Havant and South Downs College (HSDC): Multi-campus Hampshire FE college offering A Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, and adult learning. Direct competitor for Portsmouth-area learners, particularly those on the eastern Hampshire corridor.
• Chichester College Group: West Sussex-based multi-campus further education group with comparable academic and vocational curriculum. Operates on a similar scale and model to City of Portsmouth College and competes for cross-county learner share.
• Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT): Hampshire further education college delivering technical, vocational, and academic programmes. Comparable FE operating model with a similar mix of employer engagement and apprenticeship delivery in the South East region.

Regional players

• Southampton City College: Urban further education college in nearby Southampton serving a comparable metropolitan learner population with a similar broad academic/vocational/apprenticeship portfolio. Regional competitor for both learners and employer training contracts.
• Sparsholt College: Hampshire land-based college with a vocational and technical curriculum emphasis. Regional peer serving similar populations with a slightly different specialization mix (land-based industries).

Broad incumbents

• Solihull College & University Centre: Mid-sized urban further education and higher education provider in the West Midlands offering A Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships, and HE qualifications. Comparable FE/HE mix and urban multi-campus operating model.
• Middlesbrough College: Large urban further education college in the North East offering a comprehensive range of academic, vocational, apprenticeship, and higher education programmes. Comparable multi-pathway FE operating model at larger scale.
• Barnsley College: Large urban further education college in Yorkshire offering a broad academic, vocational, apprenticeship, and adult learning portfolio. Comparable comprehensive FE model with significant employer engagement and multi-pathway curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@yourcopc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/HighburyCollegeUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/yourcopc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-portsmouth-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/yourcopc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 City of Portsmouth College