Blackpool and The Fylde College

What Blackpool and The Fylde College does

Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) is a UK Further Education college founded in 1892, headquartered in Blackpool, Lancashire, and operating across multiple campuses including Blackpool, Bispham, Fleetwood Nautical Campus, and the purpose-built £10.7M Lancashire Energy HQ. The college delivers qualifications spanning school leavers courses (T Levels, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Gateway), adult learner programmes, degree-level qualifications in partnership with Lancaster University, apprenticeships, and commercial industry training across Automotive, Trades, Computing & Digital, Engineering, Teaching, Hair & Beauty, and Hospitality sectors. Its product portfolio is supported by specialized physical infrastructure including a unique £500k PWR nuclear simulator and maritime/offshore training facilities, plus designations as Defence Technical Excellence College for the North West and an Institute of Technology partner.

B&FC's business model combines government-funded FE course fees (ESFA funding for 16-18 students, means-tested support for adults), apprenticeship funding shared between government and employers, tuition fees for degree-level programmes, and commercial revenue from B&FC for Business division offerings (bespoke employer training, Skills Bootcamps, professional qualifications). Distribution is event-driven, relying on open events, a dedicated school liaison team engaging secondary schools, direct enrollment via the college website, and direct employer engagement. The college works with 30+ awarding bodies to issue recognized qualifications and serves 1,800+ UK employers.

A proposed merger with Furness College is in public consultation, targeting completion on 1 August 2026 to create a financially resilient FE organization serving coastal communities across Lancashire and Cumbria. The Multiversity campus under construction in Blackpool town centre, with Morgan Sindall and Blackpool Council, represents significant capital expansion. B&FC is primarily funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, regulated by the Office for Students, and does not have external shareholders or venture capital backers.

Name

Blackpool and The Fylde College

Legal name

Blackpool and The Fylde College

Website

https://blackpool.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Blackpool and The Fylde College is a UK Further Education college founded in 1892, operating across Blackpool, Bispham, Fleetwood, and Lancashire Energy HQ campuses. It delivers school leaver, adult, degree-level, apprenticeship, and employer training programmes, serving 1,800+ UK employers with proposed merger with Furness College in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education and Vocational Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Further education
• Vocational training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Higher education
• Technical training

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

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. Further Education Course Fees: Tuition fees for further education courses, with government funding support for eligible students aged 16-18 and means-tested financial support for adults.
2. Higher Education Tuition Fees: Tuition fees for degree-level and higher education programs, with fees varying by program and year of entry.
3. Apprenticeship Funding: Government-funded apprenticeship programs where costs are shared between government funding and employer contributions.
4. Commercial and Industry Training: Bespoke training services for employers including short courses, professional qualifications, and Skills Bootcamps, with commercial course fees paid by employers or individuals.
5. Retail and Hospitality Services: Revenue from college restaurants, hair and beauty salons, sports centres, and theatre facilities operated for training purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blackpool and The Fylde College is a further education college delivering classroom and work-based learning across school leaver programmes (T Levels, Level 3 Triple Diplomas), adult learner courses, degree-level higher education via Lancaster University partnership, apprenticeships, and commercial industry training for employers. The college operates from purpose-built campuses including Lancashire Energy HQ with a nuclear simulator and Fleetwood Nautical Campus, serving school leavers, adult learners, degree students, apprentices, and 1,800+ UK employers.

Product overview

Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) is a further education institution offering a unified portfolio of educational services rather than a singular product. The core offering comprises School Leavers Courses (ages 16-18), Adult Learner Programs, Degree-level Higher Education, and Apprenticeships. These are supported by Industry Training services for businesses across Automotive, Trades, Business & Finance, Hair & Beauty, Computing & Digital, Engineering, Teaching, and Hospitality sectors, plus Maritime & Offshore Training at Fleetwood Nautical Campus. B&FC for Business provides employer-focused services including bespoke training and skills bootcamps. Supporting infrastructure includes Learning Resource Centres, Student Support Services (financial, learning, careers, wellbeing), and Exams & Achievements coordination with over 30 awarding bodies. The institution has been operating since 1892 and partners with Lancaster University and other bodies for degree program delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Leavers Courses Further education programmes for students aged 16-18, including T Levels, Level 3 Triple Diplomas, Level 2, Level 1, and Gateway/Entry Level courses across multiple subject areas (Computing, Engineering, Health & Social Care, Creative Arts, etc.), designed for school leavers seeking vocational qualifications and pathways to employment or higher education.
• Adult Learner Courses Further education programmes for adults aged 19+ including free English, Maths and Computing basic skills courses, Free Courses for Jobs (under government scheme), Access to Higher Education Diplomas, Leisure Learning, and vocational qualifications aimed at career change, skills upgrade, or pathways to higher education.
• Degree-level Higher Education Programmes Higher education programmes including foundation degrees, bachelor's degrees, Higher Technical Qualifications, and Institute of Technology courses delivered in partnership with Lancaster University and other awarding bodies, providing an affordable, practice-focused alternative to traditional universities.
• Apprenticeships Apprenticeship programmes across multiple sectors including standards-based training, apprenticeship vacancies, and training delivery for both apprentices and employers, with funding shared between government and employer contributions.
• Industry Training (Commercial Courses) Professional training for businesses and individuals across sectors including Automotive, Trades, Business & Finance, Hair & Beauty, Computing & Digital, Engineering, Teaching, and Hospitality, with short courses, professional qualifications, and Skills Bootcamps offered at the Bispham Campus, Lancashire Energy HQ, or on-site at employer premises.
• Maritime & Offshore Training Specialised maritime and offshore industry training delivered at the Fleetwood Nautical Campus, serving maritime and offshore sector professionals with courses targeted at sector-specific skills and certifications.
• B&FC for Business (Employer Services) Employer-focused services division offering bespoke training, industry placements, Skills Bootcamps, sustainable technologies courses, Institute of Technology programmes, and the Partner Pact programme, serving over 1,800+ UK employers with workforce development and apprenticeship solutions.
• Learning Resource Centres Library and study facilities with access to print and digital resources, online databases, study areas, and academic support services, recently renovated at the Bispham Campus to support student learning across all programmes.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive student support including financial support, learning support, careers advice, student wellbeing, and safeguarding services available to all enrolled students across further education, higher education, and apprenticeship programmes.
• Exams & Achievements Examination management, certificate issuance, and coordination with over 30 awarding bodies for delivery of nationally recognised qualifications across the college's full programme portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• High pass rates on T Levels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Furness CollegeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2026Proposed merger with Furness College scheduled for 1 August 2026, subject to public consultation. The merger aims to create a financially strong, responsive and ambitious Further Education organization serving coastal communities across Lancashire and Cumbria.
• Lancaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree-level programmes delivered in partnership with Lancaster University. Students study Lancaster University qualifications at B&FC campuses with awards governed by Lancaster University Regional Partner College Award Regulations.
• Blackpool CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in the Multiversity campus development project in Blackpool town centre, working alongside Morgan Sindall construction to create a new college facility.
• Morgan SindallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for the new Multiversity campus in Blackpool town centre, with ground-breaking ceremony attended in 2025.
• 30+ Awarding BodiescoreOthersPartnerships with over 30 awarding bodies including City & Guilds, Pearson Edexcel, NCFE, AAT, BCS, CACHE, CIPD, CITB, NOCN, OCR, SQA, University of Arts London, and others to deliver nationally recognized qualifications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kendal College: Cumbria FE college providing further education, apprenticeships, and HE programmes to a comparable coastal/rural community, and a natural integration partner alongside Furness College.
• New College Durham: North East England FE college offering a similar mix of further education, higher education, apprenticeships, and employer-led commercial training. Comparable in scale, regulatory environment, and provider mix.
• Preston College: Lancashire FE college delivering vocational courses, apprenticeships, and HE programmes to a similar regional employer and learner base. Directly competes with B&FC for school leavers, adult learners, and apprenticeship contracts.
• Burnley College: Lancashire-based FE college offering further education, higher education, apprenticeships, and employer training across similar subject areas to B&FC. Closely comparable in size, geography, and funding model.
• Bridgwater & Taunton College: Operates the National College for Nuclear and a dedicated Energy Skills Centre, making it the closest UK peer to B&FC's Lancashire Energy HQ and nuclear simulator strategy.
• Lancaster and Morecambe College: Lancashire-area FE college competing for the same school leaver, adult learner, and apprenticeship demand within commuting distance of B&FC's catchment.
• City of Liverpool College: Large North West FE college delivering further education, HE, and apprenticeship programmes to a comparable employer and learner base in a neighbouring region to B&FC.
• Hugh Baird College: Merseyside-based FE college offering further education, HE, apprenticeships, and employer training across a similar subject portfolio. Comparable in scale and GTM to B&FC.
• Furness College: Cumbria FE college and B&FC's proposed merger partner. Closely comparable in FE/HE/apprenticeships portfolio and public funding model, and overlaps in coastal-community skills focus.

Regional players

• Coleg Cambria: Large Welsh FE college with a similar further education, HE, apprenticeship, and employer-training portfolio. Operates in a different devolved nation (Wales) so does not directly compete for learners, but is a strong structural benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/b_and_fc
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackpoolcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackpool-&-the-fylde-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackpoolcollege

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 Blackpool and The Fylde College