What Borders College does

Borders College is a publicly funded further and higher education institution in the Scottish Borders, established in 1984 through the merger of four predecessor colleges and operating as a Body Corporate registered Scottish charity (SC021180) under the Further Education (Scotland) Act 1992. It delivers vocational qualifications (NQ through HNC/HND), apprenticeships (Foundation, Modern, Graduate), commercial training, and higher education to more than 5,000 students from four campuses — Galashiels (Scottish Borders Campus, shared with Heriot-Watt University School of Textiles and Design), Newtown St Boswells (Landbased Campus), Tweedbank (Construction Hub), and Hawick (STEM Innovation Hub) — supported by community-based learning facilities across the Borders region. Reported student satisfaction is 98% across both Further Education and Higher Education courses.

The college's technology platform is anchored on a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) framework with digital blended delivery and supporting ICT infrastructure. Distinctive technical assets include the CONVERT project applying VR, AR, and Mixed Reality to construction training; the BTECH Technology Enhanced Care Hub partnership platform integrating health and social care training with NHS Borders and SBCares; a Digital Devices Lending Programme issuing configured laptops to eligible students for course duration; and an interactive eProspectus 2026/2027 platform with embedded video and learner pathway navigation. These are immersive and platform investments rather than proprietary commercial AI products.

Revenue is dominated by Scottish Funding Council grants on behalf of the Scottish Government, with secondary streams from tuition fees paid by Rest-of-UK students (up to £9,535 per year) and international students, commercial short courses (food hygiene, IOSH, first aid, etc.), venue hire, and employer-paid apprenticeship training. Scottish and EU further education students typically receive fee waivers under the National Fee Waiver Policy; higher education tuition for eligible Scottish students is covered by SAAS. Go-to-market is multi-channel, combining a Schools Academy partnership with secondary schools, employer-anchored apprenticeship recruitment, a dedicated business training team for workforce solutions, and direct website applications.

Name

Borders College

Legal name

Borders College

Website

https://borderscollege.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Borders College is a publicly funded further and higher education college in the Scottish Borders serving over 5,000 students, delivering vocational, apprenticeship, higher education, and commercial training across four campuses (Galashiels, Newtown St Boswells, Tweedbank, and Hawick).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottish Borders

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Scottish Funding Council): The majority of learning is publicly funded further and higher education, and apprenticeships. The college is funded primarily by the Scottish Funding Council on behalf of the Scottish Government.
2. Tuition Fees (RUK and International Students): Students from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales are responsible for paying their own tuition fees, which can be up to £9,535 per year. International students require sufficient funding for tuition and living costs.
3. Commercial and Community Courses: Short commercial courses covering food hygiene to first aid, IOSH to personal development, as well as leisure and community courses provide commercial revenue streams.
4. Venue Hire: The college offers venue hire services from its campus facilities, generating additional non-educational revenue.
5. Student Support Funds Administration: Bursary, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), and discretionary funding are administered through the college for eligible students, with funds provided by SAAS and the Scottish Government.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Borders College is a Further and Higher Education institution delivering full-time and part-time courses, apprenticeships (Foundation, Modern, and Graduate), commercial and community short courses, and customised business training solutions. Programmes span National Qualifications through Higher Nationals across multiple campuses in the Scottish Borders, serving school leavers, adult learners, and employer customers. Vocational specialisms include land-based/rural skills, construction (with VR/AR training), equine, gas engineering, sport, and enterprise education.

Product overview

Borders College is a Further and Higher Education institution offering a unified portfolio of educational programmes and training services. The core offering consists of full-time courses (NQ through HND), part-time courses, apprenticeships (Foundation, Modern, and Graduate levels), and commercial/community learning programmes. Supporting these are specialised vocational programmes including ACS Gas Courses, Horse Care, Rural Skills, BASE Mountain Biking, the Scottish Racing Academy, and Skills for Life and Work. The college also operates the Convert Project (VR/AR construction training), BTECH Care Hub, and Schools Academy as distinctive educational initiatives. Business Training Solutions provides customised employer training. All offerings are accessible through the institution's eProspectus platform. The college serves over 5,000 students across campuses in Galashiels (Scottish Borders Campus), Newtown St Boswells (Landbased Campus), Tweedbank (Construction Hub), and Hawick (STEM Innovation Hub).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-time Courses Full-time Further Education and Higher Education programmes including National Qualifications, HNC, and HND courses delivered across Galashiels, Newtown St Boswells, and Tweedbank campuses for school leavers and full-time learners.
• Part-time Courses Evening, afternoon, and day-release courses for individuals seeking to study without full-time commitment, offered at multiple campuses and community venues across the Scottish Borders with fees charged per module/unit.
• Apprenticeships Work-based training programmes including Foundation Apprenticeships for school pupils, Modern Apprenticeships for those aged 16+, and Graduate Apprenticeships at degree level, delivered in partnership with hundreds of regional employers.
• Commercial and Community Learning Short courses, leisure programmes, and certificated learning covering topics from food hygiene to first aid, IOSH, and personal development for individuals and community members.
• Business Training Solutions Customised training packages for employers including sector-specific courses, apprenticeships, and workforce development programmes, delivered by a dedicated team of industry specialists at times and locations to suit business requirements.
• ACS Gas Courses ACS Gas Training Courses for aspiring and professional gas engineers to upgrade skills and qualifications, delivered as a standalone commercial training programme.
• Rural Skills Land-based training programmes delivered at the Newtown St Boswells campus, providing access to approximately ten acres of farmland for practical training in rural and land-based careers.
• Horse Care Equine industry career programme combining theory, practical stable management, riding, and work experience for students pursuing careers in the equine sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% student satisfaction rate for both Further Education and Higher Education courses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scottish Borders CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Scottish Borders Council for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) delivery and BTECH (Borders Care Career Academy) for integrated health and social care training. Also partner in Data Driven Innovation projects through Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal.
• NHS BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BTECH (Borders Care Career Academy) alongside SBCares and Borders College, supporting delivery of integrated health and social care partnership through flexible training opportunities.
• Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural Skills Pathways partnership showcasing career pathways for the land based sector in the South of Scotland, funded by Scottish Funding Council.
• Heriot-Watt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared campus partnership at Scottish Borders Campus, Galashiels with Heriot-Watt University School of Textiles and Design. Strong and effective partnership since campus was purpose-built to be shared.
• South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner supporting regional skills and enterprise initiatives. SOSE Head of Economic Infrastructure serves on College Regional Board.
• Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region DealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Deal is investing £25 million in eight employability- and skills-based projects, including Data Driven Innovation, to overcome barriers those from disadvantaged communities face when it comes to enhancing employability.
• Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC)minorOthersProcurement consortium for universities and colleges. Principal Pete Smith serves as non-executive director.
• Colleges ScotlandminorOthersColleges Scotland is the voice of Scotland's colleges. Principal Pete Smith serves on the College Principals' Group and College Sector Finances Committee.
• Scottish Borders Chamber of CommerceminorOthersPrincipal Pete Smith serves as member of Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce to support economic growth in the region.
• Live BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Pete Smith serves as non-executive director and trustee for Live Borders, the local leisure trust.
• Scottish EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency partner supporting business growth and skills initiatives in Scotland.
• Skills Development ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational skills body providing apprenticeship funding and career services. College is approved Training Provider of National Training Programmes.
• Young Enterprise ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise education partner providing resources and support for student enterprise activities through the Borders College Enterprise Zone.
• Royal Bank of Scotland (Dream Bigger)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner providing enterprise support resources and mentorship through the Dream Bigger programme for student entrepreneurs.
• SBCarescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BTECH (Borders Care Career Academy) alongside NHS Borders and Borders College for integrated health and social care career academy delivery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New College Lanarkshire: Multi-campus Scottish FE college delivering FE, HE, apprenticeships and commercial training with similar SFC funding mechanics. Comparable in size and operational breadth.
• Dumfries and Galloway College: Rural Scottish FE college operating in a similar regional anchor model for the South of Scotland. Closest analogue in terms of geography, rural demographics, and partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
• West Lothian College: Smaller Scottish FE college with similar FE/HE, apprenticeship, and commercial course offering. Useful like-for-like on operating cost base and SFC outcome-agreement dynamics.
• Fife College: Mid-sized Scottish FE college with multiple campuses, apprenticeships, and employer-led training programmes. Comparable scale, governance structure, and SFC funding dependency to Borders College.
• Forth Valley College: Scottish FE college with comparable apprenticeship, vocational, and HE pathways, plus industry-aligned specialist facilities. Directly comparable in product mix and public funding model.
• Edinburgh College: Largest FE college in Scotland, also publicly funded through the SFC and offering a similar portfolio of FE, HE (HNC/HND), apprenticeships, and commercial training. Directly comparable in mission and funding model, though operating in an urban rather than rural catchment.

Emerging players

• Scotland's Rural College (SRUC): Specialist land-based and rural college that is both a Borders College partner (Rural Skills Pathways) and a partial competitor for land-based/apprenticeship provision in the South of Scotland.

Broad incumbents

• Newcastle College: Part of the NCG group, offering FE, HE, apprenticeships and employer training at much larger scale. Useful comparable for employer services and apprenticeship product economics.
• City of Glasgow College: Largest Scottish FE college by student numbers, offering an overlapping FE/HE/apprenticeship portfolio at greater scale. Represents the upper bound of the Scottish FE operating model.

Regional players

• Wiltshire College & University Centre: Rural English FE college with multiple campuses, land-based provision, and apprenticeship delivery. Comparable in rural multi-campus operating model, though operating under English funding and regulatory frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/borderscollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/borderscollegestudents
• Xx.com/borderscollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borders-college

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Borders College