Worthing College
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersWorthing, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Worthing College does
Worthing College is a Further Education college located on an 18-acre parkland campus in Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom, founded in 1973. It delivers a broad curriculum spanning A-Levels across 16+ subject areas, T Levels (including a specialist Education and Early Years pathway with extended industry placements), BTEC vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, Foundation Degrees in Sport Health and Exercise Science, and a portfolio of adult learning and professional courses. The college runs three specialist academies (STEM, Sport, Visual Arts) plus enrichment programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and a Combined Cadet Force Royal Naval contingent, the latter being a first-of-its-kind arrangement for a UK FE college.
The institution operates within the Chichester College Group, a network of 8 colleges across Sussex and Surrey, which provides shared back-office, marketing, and apprenticeship infrastructure. Its technology footprint centres on physical campus assets (specialist science and language laboratories, STEM Centre, sport science labs accessed via University of Chichester partnership, VR-enabled immersive learning spaces, and a fully equipped fitness gym) rather than proprietary software platforms. It maintains an online application tracker, a dedicated international office, and active social media channels across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Worthing College generates revenue primarily through UK government funding channels: the Education and Skills Funding Agency supports under-19 provision, apprenticeship levy funds work-based learning, and Advanced Learner Loans and fee waivers support adult learners. Apprenticeship delivery is funded through employer partnerships with the NHS, local councils, and corporate employers, while ancillary income derives from a student gym membership (£50/year or £25/term) and venue hire. The college serves four primary customer segments: school leavers (16-18), adult learners (19+), apprenticeship seekers, and international students, with Ofsted Outstanding judgements in 2025 for both Adult Learning and Apprenticeships, alongside a TEF Silver Award, providing the principal quality credentials underpinning its market position.
Worthing College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Worthing College
- Legal name
- Worthing College
- Website
- https://worthing.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Worthing College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)
Keywords
Where Worthing College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Worthing
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Worthing College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funded Education: Free education for students under 19 at the start of course. Course and exam fees are government funded for home students aged under 19.
- Adult Education Fees: Fee-based courses for adults 19+. Students may qualify for fee waivers based on first qualification, unemployment status, or low wage. Advanced Learner Loans available for Level 3+ courses with repayment starting at £25,000 earnings.
- Apprenticeship Training: Apprenticeship programmes funded through employer partnerships. Training is funded and apprentices receive national living wage for their time at work.
- Learning Support Grant/Bursaries: Financial support for students in receipt of eligible benefits or low income, providing help with travel costs, equipment, books, materials, and childcare costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Under 19 Students - Government Funded |
| Subscription | Annual | Adults 19-23 - Fee Waivers Available |
| Subscription | Annual | Adults 24+ - Fee-Based |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Gym Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Worthing College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Worthing College is a Further Education college delivering A-Levels, T Levels, BTECs, Apprenticeships, Higher Education Foundation Degrees, and Adult Education courses. Academic programmes are complemented by specialist academies (STEM, Sport, Visual Arts), industry placements, and a Matrix-accredited Progression Plus careers service. The college also offers free online VRQ courses and Skills Bootcamps for adults.
Product overview
Worthing College is a sixth form and further education college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes across multiple delivery formats. The core academic offering consists of A-Levels across 16+ subject areas, complemented by T Levels (including Education & Early Years specialisation) and BTEC vocational qualifications. Work-based learning includes apprenticeships rated Outstanding by Ofsted across industries including accountancy, engineering, and childcare. Higher education provision features Foundation Degrees in Sport, Health & Exercise Science. Specialist academies include STEM, Academy of Sport, and Academy of Visual Arts. Distance learning options encompass free online VRQ courses and Skills Bootcamps. The college operates as part of Chichester College Group and was judged Outstanding by Ofsted for Adult Learning and Apprenticeships in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Academy of Sport: A dedicated programme for students who want to combine high-level sporting performance with their academic studies, supporting student athletes across basketball, football, rugby, and netball.
- STEM Academy
- Academy of Visual Arts
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Products and services
- A-Levels
- T Levels
- Apprenticeships
- BTEC Business (Level 3)
- AAT Accounting Qualifications
- BTEC Sport and Sport & Exercise Science
- A Level Physical Education
- FdSc Sport, Health & Exercise Science
- International Student Programmes
- Step Up NCFE
- Uniformed Services with Combined Cadet Force (RN)
- Adult Education
- Free Online Learning Courses (VRQs)
- Skills Bootcamp
- T Level in Education & Early Years
- STEM Academy
- Academy of Sport
- Academy of Visual Arts
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Quantifiable outcome
- Students achieve places at leading Russell Group universities including University of Sussex, University of Brighton, University of Portsmouth
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Worthing College
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Worthing College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Worthing College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Chichester College GroupcoreWorthing College is part of the Chichester College Group (CCG), which includes 8 colleges across Sussex and Surrey: Brinsbury College, Chichester College, Crawley College, Haywards Heath College, Brighton MET, Northbrook College, and Sussex & Surrey IOT.
- Royal NavycoreFirst FE College chosen to work with Royal Navy in the capacity of a Combined Cadet Force - Royal Naval contingent. Students develop wide range of skills through adventure-focused training including sailing, scuba diving, and mountaineering.
- University of ChichesterminorHigher education students have access to specialist sport science labs at University of Chichester including testing laboratories and altitude rooms.
- Skybreak ApprenticeshipsminorEmployer partner for apprenticeship delivery in technology sector.
- Chartered Institution for Further Education (CIFE)minorInstitutional membership organisation for further education colleges.
- Education and Skills Funding AgencycoreGovernment body providing funding for further education and apprenticeships in England.
- National Skills Academy RailminorSkills academy supporting rail industry training and development.
- National Apprenticeship ServiceminorGovernment service supporting apprenticeship recruitment through national platform.
- UKRI (UK Research and Innovation)minorGovernment body supporting research and innovation in further education.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Worthing College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT): Mid-sized UK general FE college with similar A-Level, vocational, apprenticeship and adult provision; comparable scale and governance under a further education corporation structure, useful for benchmarking operational performance and Ofsted trajectory.
- Farnborough College of Technology: Hampshire-based FE college delivering A-Levels, BTECs, T-Levels, apprenticeships and HE foundation programmes; comparable programme breadth, employer engagement model and post-16 student demographic.
Direct peers
- Brighton MET College (GBMET): Another constituent college of Chichester College Group offering the same full FE portfolio (A-Levels, vocational, apprenticeships, adult learning) in the Brighton area — same parent, overlapping governance and shared back-office functions.
- Chichester College: Sister college within the Chichester College Group, also a UK FE college offering A-Levels, T-Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships and adult education across a multi-purpose campus — directly comparable programme mix and student demographic.
- Sussex Coast College Hastings: Independent general FE college on the Sussex coast offering A-Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships, HE and adult learning — directly comparable UK FE business model and learner mix in a neighbouring region.
- Northbrook College: Sister college in Chichester College Group with FE and HE provision including vocational, apprenticeship and adult programmes — highly comparable scope and student profile within a short geographic radius.
- Crawley College: Sister FE college within Chichester College Group, providing academic, vocational, apprenticeship and HE programmes to a similar West Sussex/Surrey catchment — same operational playbook as Worthing College.
Regional players
- Plumpton College: Sussex-based FE college specialising in land-based and vocational education but also offering a broad FE portfolio; serves an overlapping Sussex catchment and competes for the same 16-18 cohort as Worthing College.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Worthing College social profiles
Digital presenceWorthing College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Worthing College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Worthing College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Worthing College 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 Worthing College
What does Worthing College do?
Worthing College is a Further Education college delivering A-Levels, T Levels, BTECs, Apprenticeships, Higher Education Foundation Degrees, and Adult Education courses. Academic programmes are complemented by specialist academies (STEM, Sport, Visual Arts), industry placements, and a Matrix-accredited Progression Plus careers service. The college also offers free online VRQ courses and Skills Bootcamps for adults.
Is Worthing College a public or private company?
Worthing College is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Worthing College founded?
Worthing College was founded in 1973. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Worthing College based?
Worthing College is headquartered in Worthing, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Worthing College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funded Education is the primary driver. The others are adult Education Fees, apprenticeship Training and learning Support Grant/Bursaries.
Who are Worthing College's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) and Farnborough College of Technology. Direct peers are Brighton MET College (GBMET), Chichester College, Sussex Coast College Hastings, Northbrook College and Crawley College. Plumpton College is listed as a regional player.
Does Worthing College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Worthing College.
What industry is Worthing College in?
Worthing College's product category is Further Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAF, Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHAEAB, Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.