What Chichester College does

Chichester College is a publicly funded further education college in Chichester, West Sussex, England, established in 1964 (English Language School tracing to 1980). It is part of the Chichester College Group, a network of 8 colleges across Sussex that also includes Brinsbury, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Brighton MET, Northbrook, Worthing, and the Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology. The college offers a broad curriculum spanning A-Levels, T Levels, Apprenticeships, Access to Higher Education, vocational qualifications from Level 1 upward, university-level degrees awarded in partnership with the University of Chichester, and English as a Foreign Language via Chichester English Language School.

The college's product surface combines traditional academic delivery with distinctive vocational training facilities. These include Restaurant 64 and Café 19 (training restaurants open to the public), Lee Stafford Hair Salon, Oasis Beauty and Spa, and The Barber Shop (commercial-grade salons), a Riverside Theatre Company, Dance and Beyond studios, a Sports Centre with climbing walls, and a section of a Boeing 737 aircraft used for travel and tourism training. Digital delivery is supported by the CHI365 online learning portal and an Application Tracker enrollment system. Teaching staff have trained WorldSkills Gold Medalists in cabinet making (2013, 2015), and the college holds a Queen's Anniversary Prize (2021) for furniture and upholstery training.

Chichester College operates a hybrid go-to-market model. On the consumer side, students are recruited directly through the website, Application Tracker, digital prospectuses, open events, taster days, and a social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), with email marketing via Mailchimp supporting funnel progression. On the enterprise side, a dedicated employer services team secures apprenticeships, T Level industry placements, and commercial training contracts, partnering with organisations such as the NHS, local councils, Willmott Dixon, Goodwood Racecourse, Gatwick Airport, and the National Apprenticeship Service. Revenue is generated from tuition fees, ESFA government funding (16-18 and eligible adult provision), apprenticeship levy and employer co-investment, international student fees, and commercial income from public-facing facilities. The college has held TEF Silver status for higher education, was awarded Ofsted Outstanding for Adult Learning (February 2025) and Apprenticeships (2025), and operates alongside the Chichester English Language School which has over 40 years of international student support experience.

Name

Chichester College

Legal name

Chichester College

Website

https://chichester.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Chichester College is a publicly funded further education college in West Sussex, England, part of the 8-college Chichester College Group, delivering A-Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, adult learning, university-level degrees, and English language programmes to school leavers, adults, employers, and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Further education
• Apprenticeship programs
• Adult learning
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chichester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Course fees charged to students for various programs including professional courses, vocational qualifications, and higher education programs. Some courses qualify for government funding or Advanced Learner Loans.
2. Government Funded Education: Funding from Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for 16-18 year old students and eligible adult education programs. Free courses available for qualifying adults.
3. Employer-funded Training: Apprenticeship programs and workforce development training funded by employers. Commercial courses for business upskilling.
4. International Student Fees: English language courses and international programs with associated tuition fees for overseas students.
5. Public Facilities Revenue: Income from public-facing facilities including restaurants (64 Restaurant & Bar, Café 19), hair and beauty salons (Lee Stafford Salon), sports centre, and venue hire.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chichester College is a further education college providing vocational and academic qualifications from Level 1 to degree level, including A-Levels, T Levels, Apprenticeships, Access to Higher Education courses, vocational and professional courses, Adult Learning Programmes, and University-Level degrees (awarded in partnership with the University of Chichester). The college operates a specialist Chichester English Language School for international students alongside industry-partnered academies such as the Lee Stafford Education Academy, and runs public-facing training facilities including teaching restaurants, hair and beauty salons, a sports centre, climbing walls, and a theatre.

Product overview

Chichester College offers a diverse portfolio of educational programmes and training services across multiple delivery formats. The college operates as a unified Further and Higher Education institution providing A-Levels, T Levels, Apprenticeships, Access to Higher Education courses, Adult Education, Professional Courses, and University-Level programmes (awarded in partnership with the University of Chichester). The college encompasses a specialised English Language School for international students. Beyond academic programmes, the college operates commercial training facilities open to the public, including Café 19 and Restaurant 64 for hospitality training, the Lee Stafford Education Academy for hair and beauty, the Riverside Theatre Company, Dance and Beyond studios, and The Sports Centre with climbing walls. The college also provides digital learning access through the CHI365 online learning portal. The institution is part of the Chichester College Group, which includes multiple colleges across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lee Stafford Academy: A hair and beauty academy operated in partnership with award-winning stylist Lee Stafford, offering cutting edge training for hair and beauty students.
• Chichester English Language School
• Chichester College Furniture Department

Products and services

• Apprenticeship Programmes Work-based apprenticeship training delivered in partnership with employers across multiple sectors, combining on-the-job learning with off-the-job instruction. Available to school leavers and adult learners through employers paying the Apprenticeship Levy or via government co-investment.
• T Level Programmes Two-year technical qualifications for 16-19 year olds equivalent to three A-Levels, combining classroom learning with a substantial industry placement of at least 45 days. Designed in collaboration with employers to meet sector skills needs.
• A-Levels (Full-Time Academic Programmes) Full-time A-Level academic qualifications delivered for school leavers preparing for university entry or higher-level study. Subjects offered across science, humanities, social sciences, and arts with combinations available to meet UCAS tariff entry requirements.
• Access to Higher Education Courses One-year intensive Access courses preparing adults aged 19+ who lack formal qualifications for university-level study. Fundable through Advanced Learner Loans with potential write-off on completion of an eligible Higher Education course.
• University-Level Degrees (Higher Education) University-level degrees, Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), and professional qualifications awarded in partnership with the University of Chichester. Curriculum designed with employer input; quality assured by TEF Silver Award. Application via UCAS or directly to Chichester College.
• Adult Learning Programmes Professional qualifications, vocational training, and leisure courses delivered part-time, evening, online, or full-time for adults aged 19+. Includes skills bootcamps and career-changer pathways, with many courses fully funded for eligible UK/EU/EEA adults.
• Chichester English Language School An integral part of the college providing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and internationally recognised English language qualifications for overseas students. Over 40 years of international student support with visa advice, accommodation, and pastoral services.
• Lee Stafford Education Academy (Hair & Beauty Training) A hair and beauty training academy operated in partnership with award-winning stylist Lee Stafford. Students train in fully equipped commercial salons using Lee's renowned hair styling techniques, with the Lee Stafford Hair Salon, Oasis Beauty and Spa, and The Barber Shop operating as real working environments open to the public.
• Distance Learning / Free Online VRQs Fully-funded online nationally-recognised Vocationally-Related Qualifications (VRQs) for eligible adults aged 19+ who have lived in the UK/EU/EEA for 3+ years. Delivered remotely through the Distance Learning programme.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Lee Stafford EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChichester College is a Lee Stafford Academy, working with award-winning stylist Lee Stafford to offer cutting-edge hair styling training. Students learn Lee's renowned hair styling recipes and tricks of the trade from experienced team in fully equipped commercial salons. College won College of the Year 2026 at LSE Competition.
• WorldSkills UKflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChichester College students participate in WorldSkills competitions. Teaching staff have trained two previous WorldSkills Gold Medalists in cabinet making. Students have achieved gold medals for cabinet making in 2013 and 2015, and represented Team UK at WorldSkills.
• National Apprenticeship ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for apprenticeship recruitment and delivery. College supports recruitment through website and National Apprenticeship Service platform. Dedicated staff team matches apprenticeship applicants to vacancies.
• NHS and Local CouncilsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChichester College works closely with NHS and local councils to create valuable apprenticeship opportunities that support workforce development and individual career progression.
• Willmott DixonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction industry partner delivering hands-on safety masterclass to students. Steve George from Willmott Dixon delivered dynamic talk to construction students.
• RFU (Rugby Football Union)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinks to one of biggest sporting bodies in Britain for sports education. Supports football and rugby coaching programs.
• The FA (Football Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership as Football Focus College specializing in coaching. One of only 22 Football Super Hubs in UK.
• Goodwood RacecourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospitality students played key role in opening day of Goodwood Racecourse Season Opener. Real-world work experience opportunity.
• Gatwick AirportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated former London Gatwick Airfield operations vehicle to support delivery of Motor Vehicle courses.
• University of ChichesterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-level degrees awarded by University of Chichester. Degrees are recognized by employers and aligned with real-world success. Curriculum designed with employer input.
• Chichester College GroupflagshipOthersChichester College is part of Chichester College Group including Brinsbury College, Crawley College, Haywards Heath College, Brighton MET, Northbrook College, Worthing College, and Sussex and Surrey IoT. Group provides cross-college services including IT, human resources, and shared facilities.
• Sussex Heritage TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction students participated in heritage courses held by Sussex Heritage Trust, learning traditional building skills.
• Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology (IoT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local colleges, universities and leading employers offering top-quality education and training for construction, digital and engineering specialisms. Designed and delivered with local and national employers.
• Guild of BricklayersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Guild of Bricklayers National Championships. College students secured double silver at Southern Regional Final 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Middlesbrough College: Large UK FE college offering a broad vocational and academic curriculum with strong apprenticeship and T Level provision. Comparable in scale, programme mix and employer engagement model.
• Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT): Mid-sized UK general further education college offering a similar mix of A-Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships and adult learning across a single campus. Closely comparable in scope, scale and funding model to Chichester College.
• New College Durham: Large UK further education college delivering A-Levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, Access to HE and university-level programmes. Comparable in scale, funding mix and employer-engagement model.
• Solihull College & University Centre: Comprehensive UK FE college with a wide vocational and academic portfolio including higher education provision, apprenticeships and adult learning — directly comparable to Chichester in programme breadth and student mix.
• Bradford College: Large UK further education college providing a similar combination of A-Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, Access to HE and higher education. Comparable in size, learner profile and reliance on ESFA funding.
• City of Westminster College: London-based FE college with a wide programme portfolio including A-Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning. Comparable in programme breadth and further education funding profile.
• Loughborough College: UK FE college offering vocational and academic programmes, apprenticeships and higher education, with strong sports specialism — comparable in programme breadth, apprenticeship focus and higher education partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• NCG (Newcastle College Group): Major UK college group operating multiple FE colleges plus an Institute of Technology. Directly comparable as a multi-college FE group with shared services, employer partnerships and a similar vocational/academic mix to the Chichester College Group.
• LTE Group: UK education and training group including The Manchester College and Total People apprenticeship provider. Comparable as a diversified FE/apprenticeship group with overlapping government-funded and employer-funded revenue streams.
• Luminate Education Group: Large UK college group (Leeds City College, Keighley College, Harrogate College, University Centre Leeds). Comparable as a multi-college FE/HE group with similar shared services, apprenticeship delivery and higher education offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ChicCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/officialchichestercollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chichestercollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/Chi_College
• Xx.com/chi_college

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Chichester College