Bilborough College

What Bilborough College does

Bilborough College is a sixth-form further education institution in Nottingham, UK, serving approximately 2,050 students aged 16–19 who study A-levels and BTEC Level 3 qualifications in a campus-based setting. The college delivers over 30 A-level subjects across seven disciplinary areas and a range of BTEC Extended Certificates in vocational fields including Business, Applied Science, Performing Arts, Creative Digital Media Production, E-sports, Music Technology, and Sports & Exercise Science. Teaching is supported by a purpose-built campus opened in 2005, expanded in 2023 with a new DfE-funded Technology Block, and by assistive technology including Office 365 (read aloud, dictation), laptop loans, reading pens, and dictaphones for students with additional needs.

The college operates on a publicly funded, subscription-equivalent model: core teaching for 16–19 year olds is free at the point of delivery, with funding flowing from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Department for Education (DfE) based on student numbers and outcomes. Ancillary revenue is generated through on-campus services such as catering (including a Costa Coffee outlet), bus passes sold via Wisepay, and enrichment activities, supplemented by a bursary for students from households earning £30,000 or less. Bilborough College joined the Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT), sponsored by Coventry University, on 1 November 2019, and operates under BFMAT governance with a Local Governing Body. Customer-facing technology comprises CEDAR for student management, Wisepay for payments, Unifrog for careers, and an online application portal, with no public APIs or proprietary software products.

Name

Bilborough College

Legal name

Bilborough College

Website

https://bilborough.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bilborough College is a Nottingham-based sixth-form college delivering A-levels and BTEC Level 3 qualifications to approximately 2,050 students aged 16–19, funded primarily through UK government ESFA grants under the Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sixth Form Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Sixth form education
• A-level courses
• BTEC qualifications
• Further education
• Post-16 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: As a 16-19 Further Education institution, Bilborough College is government-funded through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and DfE. Students aged 16-19 attend free of tuition fees. The college receives funding based on student numbers and educational outcomes. Additional revenue comes from ancillary services such as catering, bus passes, and enrichment activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bilborough College delivers Level 3 secondary education for students aged 16-19 through over 30 A-Level subjects and BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificates, augmented by the Extended Project Qualification, Step-Up preparation materials, and the Bilborough Xtra enrichment programme. Teaching takes place on a purpose-built Nottingham campus with specialist facilities including a 2023 DfE-funded Technology Block for Electronics, Physics, E-sports and Mathematics. The college also runs dedicated careers, progression and employability support in partnership with universities and major employers.

Product overview

Bilborough College is a sixth-form further education institution providing a unified educational offering centred on Level 3 qualifications for students aged 16-19. The core portfolio comprises over 30 A-Level courses (primarily exam-based) and BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificates (vocational, assignment and exam assessed). Students typically study three subjects. The college also offers preparatory Step-Up work materials, enrichment activities through the Bilborough Xtra programme including sports teams and clubs, and the Extended Project Qualification as an additional qualification. The A-Level programme spans seven subject areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Social Science, Science and PE, Professional Studies, Mathematics and Computer Science, Languages and Communication, and Extended Studies. BTEC offerings cover Performing Arts, Esports, Creative Digital Media Production, Business, Sport, Digital Music Production, and Applied Science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A-Level Courses Over 30 A-Level subject options for students aged 16-19, assessed primarily through exams with some coursework components.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate Vocational qualifications equivalent to one A-Level in subjects including Business, Applied Science, Performing Arts, Creative Digital Media Production, Music Technology (Digital Music Production), and Sports & Exercise Science, assessed through a mix of assignments and exams over two years.
• Step-Up Pre-Course Work Preparation materials for incoming students to complete before starting lessons in their chosen subjects, covering all A-Level and BTEC courses offered at the college.
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Level 3 qualification allowing students to undertake an independent research project on a topic of their choice, providing UCAS points and developing employability skills.
• Young Enterprise Programme Student entrepreneurship programme where teams develop and market products or services, competing in regional and national competitions.
• Bilborough Xtra Enrichment Programme Wide range of extracurricular activities including sports teams, musical groups, languages, business-related activities, drama, media, and qualification-boosting courses such as Duke of Edinburgh, First Aid, and TEFL.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% pass rate across all courses (2025)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019BFMAT is a 16-19 Academy Trust sponsored by Coventry University. Bilborough College joined BFMAT on 1 November 2019 as a converter academy. BFMAT is the first University-sponsored MAT focused on Sixth Form Education. The trust oversees governance, finances, and strategic direction while the college maintains local governance through its Local Governing Body.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNottingham Trent University is listed as a key university partner. Students engage with NTU through talks, events, competitions and engagement programmes throughout the year. The college holds its Young Enterprise regional ceremony at NTU.
• University of NottinghammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Nottingham is listed as a key university partner, engaging with students through talks, events, competitions and programmes throughout the academic year.
• Loughborough UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoughborough University is listed as a key university partner working with the college on talks, events, competitions and engagement programmes.
• De Montfort UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Montfort University (Leicester) is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks, events and competitions.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheffield Hallam University is listed as a key university partner engaged with the college through talks, events and competitions.
• Sheffield UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Sheffield is listed as a key university partner working with the college on talks, events, and engagement programmes.
• University of DerbymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Derby is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks, events and programmes.
• Keele UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeele University is listed as a key university partner engaged with the college through talks, events and competitions.
• University of LeedsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Leeds is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks, events and competitions.
• University of WolverhamptonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Wolverhampton is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks, events and competitions.
• University of YorkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of York is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks, events and programmes.
• Open UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen University is listed as a key university partner engaging with students through talks and programmes.
• Vision West Nottinghamshire CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision West Nottinghamshire College is listed as an educational partner engaged with the college through talks and events.
• Armed ForcesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Armed Forces are listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme, providing information about career pathways and apprenticeships.
• BootsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoots is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme, participating in careers fairs and providing apprenticeship and employment opportunities.
• Civil ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Civil Service is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme and events.
• NHSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe NHS is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme, providing information about health-related careers and apprenticeships.
• Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire PoliceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNottinghamshire and Derbyshire Police are listed as employer partners, engaging with students through careers events and police HQ visits.
• Rolls RoyceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRolls-Royce is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme. The college also won the Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology Special Merit Award.
• Electronic Assembly Services LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElectronic Assembly Services Ltd is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme.
• First Response FinanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Response Finance is listed as an employer partner engaged with the college's careers programme.
• Nottingham Police HQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNottingham Police HQ hosts student visits where students meet Business Administration apprentices and learn about police career paths and apprenticeships.
• Peterhouse, CambridgemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college participates in the HE+ scheme with Peterhouse, Cambridge, providing selected students with access to online materials, university visits, and advice on Cambridge applications.
• New College, OxfordmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college is a partner with New College, Oxford on their Step Up scheme, a sustained programme of support across years 12 and 13 including workshops on applications and personal statements, and a day visit to the college.
• Nottingham PlayhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNottingham Playhouse is a theatre partner with links for Drama and Performing Arts students to widen insight into the arts. The college takes students to see productions and participates in post-show Q&As.
• UCASmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the platform students use to apply to universities and conservatoires. The college integrates UCAS into its careers programme with dedicated support for applications and personal statements.
• UnifrogmajorTechnology or IntegrationUnifrog is the platform used by students to research career choices. All students have access to Unifrog during their studies and can continue to access it after leaving college. Parents can request access codes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Nottingham College: Large further-education college based in Nottingham, directly competing with Bilborough for 16-19 students in the same catchment but with a much broader curriculum including vocational and adult provision.

Direct peers

• Woodhouse College: Single-site sixth-form college in North London with a broad A-level and BTEC offer. Comparable scale, urban single-site model, and university destinations focus.
• Long Road Sixth Form College: Single-site A-level/BTEC sixth-form college in Cambridge. Comparable scale, curriculum mix, and aspirational student base to Bilborough, with similar progression to selective universities.
• Peter Symonds College: One of the UK's largest and most established sixth-form colleges based in Winchester, with a broad A-level/BTEC portfolio and strong university destinations. Closely mirrors Bilborough's single-site academic college positioning at larger scale.
• Hills Road Sixth Form College: Large, high-achieving single-site sixth-form college in Cambridge with a strong Russell Group progression track record. Closely comparable to Bilborough in single-site academic model, mixed A-level/BTEC offer, and aspirational student demographic.
• The Sixth Form College, Solihull: Single-site sixth-form college in the West Midlands offering over 30 A-level and BTEC subjects. Similar in scale, academic single-site model, and mixed progression outcomes to Bilborough.
• Richard Taunton Sixth Form College: Single-site sixth-form college in Southampton offering a broad A-level and BTEC curriculum. Comparable single-site academic model and progression focus to Bilborough.
• Reigate College: Standalone sixth-form college in Surrey offering a broad A-level/BTEC portfolio. Directly comparable single-site academic positioning and university progression focus.
• Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College: Single-site sixth-form college in Birmingham offering A-levels and BTECs. Similar mid-size single-site model and East-Midlands-comparable urban catchment.

Others

• Vision West Nottinghamshire College: Local further-education college partner in West Nottinghamshire delivering broader vocational and adult provision. Listed as a Bilborough partner and adjacent provider; not a direct sixth-form competitor but a same-region educational ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BilboroughCol
• Facebookfacebook.com/BilboroughCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bilborough-college-student-executive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Bilborough College