Cheadle College

What Cheadle College does

Cheadle College is a UK further education college operating as part of The Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG), serving the Trafford and Stockport area of Greater Manchester, England. It was constituted as a distinct college entity in 2023 following a restructuring of the wider group. The college delivers secondary-to-post-16 pathways for students aged 16-18 — including A Levels, T Levels, vocational qualifications, GCSE programmes, apprenticeships, and a Progression Curriculum — alongside a portfolio of adult courses covering leisure and hobby programmes, skills-for-work, essential/basic skills, and professional qualifications.

The college operates a network of specialised training centres that extend its delivery beyond traditional classroom-based learning. These include the Airport Academy (developed with Manchester Airport and recognised with an Educate North Award), the Green Skills Hub (green technologies training), the Skills Shop, and the Electrical and Gas Assessment Centre (ACS/AM2 electrical and gas qualifications). Distribution combines on-campus teaching with an online application and enrolment portal, complemented by open days, school outreach to Year 11 cohorts, and a multi-platform social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok).

Revenue is generated primarily through government funding for 16-18 education and apprenticeship provision (including the apprenticeship Levy), adult course fees (some government-funded), and employer services such as bespoke training, apprenticeship programmes, and T Level industry placements. The college holds a GOOD Ofsted rating, indicating satisfactory educational quality. Cheadle College does not have a proprietary technology platform, app, or public API; its digital footprint is limited to a content website and SharePoint/Office 365 portal infrastructure.

Name

Cheadle College

Legal name

The Trafford & Stockport College Group

Website

https://cheadle.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cheadle College is a UK further education college within The Trafford & Stockport College Group, delivering A Levels, T Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, and adult training to over 11,500 learners in Greater Manchester, supported by specialised centres including an Airport Academy and Green Skills Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

TVET/Skills & Workforce Education Authorities (EDADAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH), Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)

Keywords

• Further education
• Vocational training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Adult learning
• Technical qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

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: Core revenue from government funding for 16-18 education and approved apprenticeship programs. The college receives public funding for delivering vocational and academic qualifications.
2. Adult course fees: Adult learners pay fees for professional qualifications, leisure courses, and skills training. Some adult courses may be funded through government finance and funding programs.
3. Apprenticeship funding: Apprenticeship programs funded through employer contributions and government apprenticeship Levy schemes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cheadle College is a further education college delivering academic, technical, vocational and apprenticeship programmes for 16-18 year olds and adult learners across Greater Manchester. Offerings span A Levels, T Levels, vocational courses, GCSEs, apprenticeships, and adult leisure, skills-for-work, essential skills, and professional qualification courses. Provision is reinforced by specialised training centres (Airport Academy, Green Skills Hub, Skills Shop, ACS/AM2 Centre, Electrical and Gas Assessment Centre) and employer-facing services such as bespoke training and T Level industry placements.

Product overview

Cheadle College, part of The Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG), operates as a comprehensive further education institution offering a multi-segment educational platform. The portfolio consists of core academic and vocational programs (College 16-18, A Levels, T Levels, Vocational Courses, GCSE Programme, Apprenticeships, Progression Curriculum) serving students aged 16-18, alongside adult education offerings (Adult Courses including Leisure & Hobby Courses, Skills for Work, Essential Skills, and Professional Qualifications). Specialized training is delivered through dedicated centres including the Skills Shop, ACS & AM2 Centre, Airport Academy, Green Skills Hub, and Electrical and Gas Assessment Centre. The college also provides employer-facing services including bespoke training, apprenticeships, innovation support, and T Level industry placements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Levels Academic A Level qualifications for 16-18 year-old students covering Accounting & Finance, Art & Design, Business & Law, Childcare & Education, Computing, Creative Digital Media, Education & Teacher Training, English & Maths, Health & Social Care, Science & Pharmacy, Sport, and Uniformed Services.
• T Levels Technical qualifications combining classroom learning with industry placements for 16-18 year-old students across multiple technical subject areas.
• Vocational Courses Work-related vocational qualifications designed to equip 16-18 students with the practical skills needed for specific career paths.
• GCSE Programme GCSE programmes delivered to 16-18 students at Cheadle College, typically for those completing or retaking secondary-level qualifications.
• Apprenticeships Work-based learning programmes combining on-the-job training with study, available to young people and adults across areas such as airport management and engineering.
• Progression Curriculum Advanced study pathways designed to help 16-18 students progress to higher education or employment.
• Leisure and Hobby Courses Non-vocational, recreational courses for adult learners seeking personal enrichment and hobby development.
• Skills for Work Vocational training programmes designed to improve employment prospects and workplace skills for adult learners.
• Essential Skills Adult basic/essential skills training covering fundamental educational competencies such as English, maths, and digital skills.
• Professional Qualifications Professional certification and qualification programmes for adult learners seeking career advancement.
• Skills Shop Specialist training centre offering practical skills development and assessment services across multiple trades.
• ACS and AM2 Centre Specialist assessment centre delivering ACS and AM2 technical assessments for electrical and gas trade qualifications.
• AM2 Electrical Technical electrical assessment and training facility for apprentice and professional electricians, offering the AM2 end-point assessment.
• Airport Academy Specialist training centre for airport management and aviation skills, developed in partnership with Manchester Airport.
• Green Skills Hub Specialist training centre focused on green technologies and sustainable skills development for adult learners and apprentices.
• Electrical and Gas Assessment Centre Specialist assessment facility powered by TSCG for electrical and gas trades qualifications and certification.
• Employer Services Services for employers including bespoke training, apprenticeship programmes, innovation support, work experience placement coordination, T Level industry placements, and Employer Advisory Board participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Educate North Award win for groundbreaking Airport Skills partnership

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manchester AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester Airport is featured as a key employer partner for specialized apprenticeship programs. The college has developed a groundbreaking Airport Management course in partnership with the airport, and the first cohort of apprentices graduated from this program. The partnership won the Educate North Award for Airport Skills.
• Employer Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college maintains an Employer Advisory Board comprised of local employers who provide guidance on curriculum development, skills needs, and ensure programs meet industry requirements.
• University of HuddersfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing progression pathways for students. The logo appears in the partnership section of the website footer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• City & Guilds: City & Guilds is a UK awarding body whose vocational qualifications underpin many of the trade and professional credentials Cheadle delivers (including electrical/gas assessment routes); not a direct competitor but an enabling ecosystem participant tied to the same learner outcomes.

Direct peers

• Bury College: Bury College is a Greater Manchester further education college delivering A Levels, vocational courses, T Levels and apprenticeships to a similar learner demographic in an adjacent borough to Cheadle's core catchment.
• Tameside College: Tameside College is a further education college in Greater Manchester offering A Levels, vocational and apprenticeship provision; comparable in scale, segment mix and regional employer dynamics to Cheadle College.
• Bolton College: Bolton College is a neighbouring Greater Manchester further education college offering A Levels, T Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning; directly comparable in size, product mix and regional employer base.
• Salford City College: Salford City College is a nearby Greater Manchester FE college serving 16-18, adult and apprenticeship learners in overlapping geographies; comparable further education portfolio and employer relationships.
• Trafford College (TSCG sister college): Trafford College is the other primary campus within The Trafford & Stockport College Group alongside Cheadle, sharing curriculum, governance, employer relationships and back-office functions; directly comparable in further education offering, geography, and student segments.
• The Manchester College: The Manchester College is part of the LTE Group and one of the largest FE colleges in Greater Manchester, offering A Levels, vocational, apprenticeship and adult programs across the same catchment as Cheadle; competes head-to-head for 16-18 and adult learners.
• Stockport College (TSCG sister college): Stockport College is part of the same TSCG group as Cheadle, operating within the same Greater Manchester FE market with overlapping A Level, vocational and apprenticeship programs and shared employer engagement infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• LTE Group: LTE Group is the parent of The Manchester College and a major national FE/apprenticeship group; competes directly with Cheadle/TSCG for apprenticeship levy contracts, employer relationships, and adult skills funding in the North West, with broader geographic reach and larger scale.

Regional players

• Wigan & Leigh College: Wigan & Leigh College is a Greater Manchester further education college with a similar further education portfolio including technical specialisms and apprenticeship programs; comparable in offerings though slightly further from Cheadle's Trafford/Stockport core.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tscollegegroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/cheadlecollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-trafford-stockport-college-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheadlecollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@tscollegegroup
• Xx.com/CheadleCollege

Compliance1 record

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 Cheadle College