Guildford College
Guildford College is a UK further and higher education institution in Guildford, Surrey, operated as part of the Activate Learning group, serving 6,000+ students with 100+ courses from foundation to degree level, including A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational training.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersGuildford, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Guildford College does
Guildford College is a further and higher education institution located in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom, operating as part of the Activate Learning educational group. Founded in 2013, the college serves 6,000+ students across 100+ courses spanning foundation level through degree level, including A Levels, T Levels, vocational courses, GCSEs, Foundation Studies, SEND programmes, ESOL, apprenticeships, and higher education qualifications awarded through partner universities (Oxford Brookes, University of Reading, Middlesex University). The institution is regulated by Ofsted, which rated it 'Good' in 2022, and holds Matrix accreditation for careers guidance.
The college operates from a single campus at Stoke Road, Guildford, with facilities including hairdressing salons, a TV studio, engineering workshops, photography studios, dance studios, and the public-facing Park Room Restaurant and Salon in the Park. Technology infrastructure is standard educational tooling: the Canvas-based Activate Learning Online (ALO) learning management platform for full-time and HE students, plus ExamNet for exam timetables. The college runs a dedicated Activate Apprenticeships programme managing a pipeline of 16,000 apprentices matched to 1,250+ employers, with 2,000+ broader business relationships supporting T-Level industry placements (315+ hours per student) and apprenticeship pathways from Level 2 through Level 7.
Revenue is generated across multiple streams: government-funded tuition for 16-18 students on funded programmes, tuition fees for adult learners (19+) with fee remission for those earning under £25,750 gross annually or unemployed, ESOL courses at £275 per term, apprenticeship training paid by employers, and adult/part-time professional courses (AAT, CIPD, Access to HE). Higher National Certificates/Diplomas, Foundation Degrees, and Top-up BA/BSc programmes are offered through university partnerships. Distribution combines a physical campus, an adult learning online portal, dedicated apprenticeship sales team, and direct employer engagement for T-Level placements. No public revenue figures are disclosed.
Guildford College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guildford College
- Legal name
- Guildford College
- Website
- https://guildford.activatelearning.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Guildford College is a UK further and higher education institution in Guildford, Surrey, operated as part of the Activate Learning group, serving 6,000+ students with 100+ courses from foundation to degree level, including A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational training.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guildford College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB), Teacher Training & Language Teaching Certifications (e.g., CELTA/DELTA) (EDAIAEAI)
Keywords
Where Guildford College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guildford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Guildford College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees - Further Education (16-18): Students aged 16-18 at the start of their course are unlikely to pay tuition fees for funded programmes. Additional charges may apply for materials, trips, and kit.
- Tuition Fees - Adult Learners (19+): Students aged 19+ may be eligible for fee remission based on income (under £25,750 gross annually), unemployment status, or first full Level 2/3 qualification. Advanced Learner Loans available for Level 3/4 programmes.
- ESOL Course Fees: ESOL courses divided into three terms, costing £275 per term. Price may be lower or higher depending on personal circumstances.
- Apprenticeship Training: Apprenticeship programmes where employers hire apprentices who earn wages while training. The college provides training and assessment services, working with over 2,000 businesses.
- Adult Education and Professional Courses: Part-time and full-time programmes for adults including Access to Higher Education, professional courses (AAT, CIPD), and leisure courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | ESOL English Language Courses |
| Freemium | Annual | 16-18 Full-time FE Programmes |
| Hybrid | Annual | 19+ Level 2 and Below |
| Other | Annual | 19+ Level 3 Courses |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Guildford College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guildford College is a further and higher education institution offering full-time academic programmes (A Levels, T Levels, GCSEs) and vocational qualifications across Levels 1-3, alongside apprenticeships from Level 2 through Degree Level 7, adult learning, Higher Education (HNC/HND, Foundation Degrees, Top-up Degrees), and specialist SEND and ESOL provision. Courses are delivered through the Guildford campus and online platforms, with apprenticeship training delivered in partnership with 1,250+ UK employers.
Product overview
Guildford College operates as a further and higher education institution offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering consists of full-time study programmes (A Levels with STEP/STRIVE/STRETCH pathways, T Levels, Vocational Courses at Levels 1-3, GCSEs) and Apprenticeships spanning Intermediate to Degree levels. Support services include Foundation Studies and SEND programmes for learners needing additional support, ESOL for English language learners, and Adult Learning for continuing education. Higher Education programmes are delivered in partnership with universities including Middlesex University and Oxford Brookes. The institution also provides enabling services including Career Pathways planning, Careers Support (Matrix-accredited), Financial Support and Bursaries, and the MindGreen mental health initiative. An internal learning management platform (Activate Learning Online/ALO) supports delivery across all programmes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MindGreen: Activate Learning's wellbeing and inclusion initiative, dedicated to supporting student and staff mental health while creating opportunities for wider participation, connection, and community impact.
Products and services
- A Levels
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of graduates go into work or higher education
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Guildford College
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Guildford College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Guildford College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Oxford Brookes UniversitycoreUniversity partnership providing higher education programmes. Students benefit from UCAS Takeover Week workshops and university fairs with 40+ exhibitors.
- University of ReadingcoreUniversity partnership providing higher education programmes with close links for A Level students.
- Southampton Solent UniversitycoreUniversity partnership with close links providing progression opportunities for A Level students.
- University of WinchestercoreUniversity partnership with close links providing progression opportunities for students.
- King's College LondonminorRussell Group university with progression links for A Level students.
- University of OxfordminorRussell Group university with progression links for A Level students.
- Penningtons Manches CooperminorLeading law firm providing legal masterclasses for A Level students.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)coreT-Level industry placement partner. 6 students completed placements with 4 joining as L6 Management Practice apprentices. Part of talent pipeline development.
- Reading Borough CouncilcoreDigital and IT Service department hosting T-Level industry placements, providing hands-on experience in council services.
- SP1 IT SolutionsminorIT solutions company hosting Digital T-Level industry placement for student Augustus.
- BMWcoreMajor employer brand offering apprenticeship opportunities through Activate Apprenticeships.
- DecathloncoreMajor employer brand offering apprenticeship opportunities through Activate Apprenticeships.
- Merlin Entertainments GroupcoreMajor employer brand offering apprenticeship opportunities through Activate Apprenticeships.
- MielecoreMajor employer brand offering apprenticeship opportunities through Activate Apprenticeships.
- HalfordscoreMajor employer brand offering apprenticeship opportunities through Activate Apprenticeships.
- Activate Learning (Parent Group)coreGuildford College is part of Activate Learning educational group, which includes multiple colleges across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Surrey. Provides shared resources, centralised systems, and cross-college opportunities.
- Royal Berkshire Hospital, Mencap, Oxfordshire Employment ServicescoreSupported internship partners providing employment opportunities for SEND learners.
- Optalis Choices for Living, Project Search, Westgate Oxford, OxLEPminorIndustry partners providing teaching and learning support for SEND students.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Guildford College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- City & Guilds: Major UK awarding body for vocational qualifications and apprenticeship end-point assessments. Functions as a credentialing partner and ecosystem reference point for the college's apprenticeship and vocational provision.
Direct peers
- Brooklands College: Surrey further education college (Weybridge) with a strong vocational and technical focus plus apprenticeship provision. Overlapping employer base and similar 16-18, adult, and apprenticeship portfolio.
- City of Oxford College: Activate Learning group college in Oxfordshire offering parallel further education, higher education, apprenticeships, and SEND pathways. Comparable scale, programme mix, and centralised operating model.
- Sparsholt College: Hampshire-based further education college with land-based, animal, and vocational specialisms plus apprenticeships. Comparable UK FE college operating model with similar 16-18, adult, and apprenticeship revenue mix.
- Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology): Surrey FE and HE college based in Ewell with broad vocational and apprenticeship programmes plus higher education. Comparable size and breadth, sharing the same Surrey learner catchment.
- East Surrey College: Surrey-based further education college (Redhill/Reigate) offering A Levels, vocational programmes, T Levels, and apprenticeships. Most direct external competitor for 16-18 and adult learners in the same county catchment.
- Reading College: Sister Activate Learning college sharing the same group systems, employer relationships, and apprenticeship infrastructure. Operating with the same Activate Apprenticeships employer network and identical Further and Higher Education portfolio.
- Farnham College: Sister college within the same Activate Learning group, also serving Surrey with a similar portfolio of A Levels, vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships and adult learning. Direct comparable on geography, programmes, and operating model.
- Woking College: Surrey sixth-form college offering A Levels and vocational pathways with university progression routes. Competes directly with Guildford for 16-18 academic learners in the surrounding Surrey corridor.
Broad incumbents
- Pearson (UK FE/BTEC): Large UK and global education and qualifications group; Pearson underpins BTEC and many vocational credentials used across UK FE. Indirect competitor and ecosystem partner for the college's vocational programmes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Guildford College social profiles
Digital presenceGuildford College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guildford College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Guildford College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guildford 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 Guildford College
What does Guildford College do?
Guildford College is a further and higher education institution offering full-time academic programmes (A Levels, T Levels, GCSEs) and vocational qualifications across Levels 1-3, alongside apprenticeships from Level 2 through Degree Level 7, adult learning, Higher Education (HNC/HND, Foundation Degrees, Top-up Degrees), and specialist SEND and ESOL provision. Courses are delivered through the Guildford campus and online platforms, with apprenticeship training delivered in partnership with 1,250+ UK employers.
Is Guildford College a public or private company?
Guildford College is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Guildford College founded?
Guildford College was founded in 2013.
Where is Guildford College based?
Guildford College is headquartered in Guildford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Guildford College make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees - Further Education (16-18) is the primary driver. The others are tuition Fees - Adult Learners (19+), ESOL Course Fees, apprenticeship Training and adult Education and Professional Courses.
Who are Guildford College's main competitors?
City & Guilds is listed as an others. Direct peers are Brooklands College, City of Oxford College, Sparsholt College, Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology), East Surrey College, Reading College, Farnham College and Woking College. Pearson (UK FE/BTEC) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Guildford College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Guildford College.
What industry is Guildford College in?
Guildford College's product category is Further Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension). Its NAICS code is 6112 and its SIC code is 8200.