What North Notts College does

North Notts College is a Further Education college based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, delivering vocational, technical, and academic programmes to school leavers, adult learners, apprentices, and higher education students. It operates as a constituent college of the RNN Group alongside Rotherham College, Dearne Valley College, and University Centre Rotherham, allowing cross-campus progression from FE into HE under a single institutional umbrella. The college offers T Levels, apprenticeships, vocational diplomas, higher education pathways, and a growing portfolio of adult and short-course provision including emerging lines in HN Flex, Esports, Games Animation, and SEMH project-based learning.

Core products are curriculum- rather than technology-led: classroom and workshop delivery supported by Google Classroom and Moodle learning management systems, with the Bridge Skills Hub (opened March 2023 in Worksop town centre) providing modern workshop and laboratory capacity funded by a £3.5M D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership grant. Employer-facing apprenticeship programmes are co-developed with partners including A-Training, Lync Active, and Weston Park Cancer Charity, and the college holds designation as a WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence.

The business model is predominantly publicly funded: ESFA grant allocations for 16-19 and adult education form the revenue base, supplemented by apprenticeship levy draws from local employers and HE tuition routed through University Centre Rotherham. The college employs 251-500 staff and is positioned as a regulated, government-aligned training provider serving the North Nottinghamshire labour market.

Name

North Notts College

Legal name

North Notts College

Website

https://nnc.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

North Notts College is a Worksop-based Further Education college within the RNN Group, delivering T Levels, apprenticeships, vocational courses, and higher education pathways to school leavers, adults, and local employers across Nottinghamshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further and Higher Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Further education
• Higher education
• Apprenticeship training
• Technical qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Worksop

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ESFA / Education & Skills Funding Agency): North Notts College receives significant government funding through the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and European Social Fund (ESF) for eligible Further Education and Apprenticeship programmes, which constitutes the primary revenue stream for publicly funded vocational education.
2. Course Fees: The college charges tuition fees for certain courses, including Advanced Learner Loans for Access to HE programmes, and full-fee paying options for adult learners not eligible for funded places. Fee information is available on request.
3. Commercial Outlets and Training Services: The college generates revenue through commercial training services to businesses and employers (including employer academies, commercial courses, and professional development programmes) as well as public-facing commercial outlets such as hair and beauty salons, providing real-work training environments with revenue-generating client services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

North Notts College is a further and higher education college that delivers vocational, technical, and academic courses for school leavers (16-18), adult learners (19+), and employers. Core offerings include T Levels (technical qualifications equivalent to three A Levels with industry placements), apprenticeships, Access to Higher Education, foundation degrees, HNC/HND, professional courses, and distance learning across 20+ vocational departments from animal care to esports.

Product overview

North Notts College is part of the RNN Group and offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services primarily as a further and higher education provider. The college's core offerings include T Levels (technical qualifications equivalent to three A Levels with mandatory industry placements), Apprenticeships combining employment with training, Higher Education degree programmes, Access to Higher Education courses for adults, and a wide range of vocational qualifications across 28 subject departments. Key sub-brands include The Bridge Skills Hub (higher-level skills training facility in Worksop town centre), the Momentous Football Academy (sports partnership programme), and FLEX (Flexible Learning for students with SEMH needs). The college provides courses for school leavers (16-18), adult learners (19+), and employers, with delivery modes including full-time study, distance learning, and employer-based training. Practical training is delivered through commercial outlets including hair and beauty salons, motor vehicle workshops, and construction workshops. The college also offers specialized provision including Supported Internships for learners with SEND and the SEMH Project Based Programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Bridge Skills Hub: A higher education facility located in Worksop town centre offering university-level courses, apprenticeships, and professional qualifications.
• FLEX (Flexible Learning and Engagement)
• Innovate Salons

Products and services

• T Levels Technical-based qualifications equivalent to three A Levels, consisting of classroom learning combined with 315-hour (45-day) industry placements. Available in Construction, Digital, Education and Early Years, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health and Science, Management and Administration, and Animal Care. For school leavers aged 16-18.
• Apprenticeships Work-based learning programmes combining real employment with training, allowing learners to earn while they study towards nationally recognised qualifications. Available for new and existing employees in collaboration with regional employers.
• Higher Education / University Degrees Degree-level courses designed with future employability in mind, including HNCs, HNDs, foundation degrees, and degree top-up courses. Delivered at the main campus and The Bridge Skills Hub in Worksop town centre.
• Access to Higher Education Foundation qualifications enabling learners aged 19+ to access higher education. Available through Advanced Learner Loans.
• Adult Courses (19+) Courses for individuals aged 19 and over seeking to progress in work or retrain, including free and low-cost options, community courses, and adult enrichment programmes.
• Courses for School Leavers (16-18) High-quality full-time vocational training including hands-on experience to help develop crucial skills for future careers, spanning multiple subject departments from construction to esports.
• HN Flex Study option allowing learners to undertake selected modules of a university-level Higher National course on an individual, flexible basis.
• Distance Learning Online training courses allowing learners to study at their own pace from any location, providing flexibility for adult learners and remote students.
• Professional Courses Industry-recognised qualifications enabling learners to develop specific professional skills, including commercial training services for businesses and employers.
• The Bridge Skills Hub Higher-level qualification facility located in Worksop town centre, offering courses including higher apprenticeships, foundation degrees, Access to HE, and degree top-up courses for local residents.
• Flexible Learning (FLEX) Specialised department offering alternative education pathways and project-based learning for students with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs.
• Supported Internships Work-based learning programmes designed to support learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to develop skills for employment.
• Commercial Training Outlets

Quantifiable outcome

• T Level industry placement of 315 hours (45 days) providing structured workplace experience
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A-TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026A-Training partnered with North Notts College to launch an Employer Academy supporting aesthetics careers. Directors Chris Wade and Laura Sexton deliver specialist masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and industry engagement activities for beauty therapy students. The partnership shapes curriculum to reflect modern workplace requirements and provides students with clear progression routes into the aesthetics industry.
• Weston Park Cancer CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Known as the 'Together at Every Step' partnership, this initiative brings together Rotherham College, North Notts College, and Dearne Valley College with Weston Park Cancer Charity to offer students volunteering, fundraising, and cancer awareness opportunities. Activities include workshops, visits from the Big Purple Bus for on-site health checks, and social action projects such as the Accumulator Challenge.
• Lync ActivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Lync Active, a community-focused health and fitness business (operating Lync Boxing Academy, Lync Performance Centre, and Lync Kids), partnered with RNN Group to deliver weekly activity sessions including fitness classes, nutrition workshops, dance sessions, football, and specialised sports training for students at college campuses, aimed at boosting health and wellbeing.
• Momentous Football AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRNN Group (including North Notts College) partnered with Momentous Football Academy to deliver a football training and games programme combining education with high-level sports performance. The programme includes 4 hours of weekly coaching plus 2 hours of fixtures, FA-qualified coaches, performance analysis, and personal development support. It is open to students across all RNN Group colleges.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Notts College (through RNN Group) offers higher education programmes in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, allowing students to obtain university qualifications delivered through the college network.
• University of HullminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Notts College (through RNN Group) offers higher education programmes in partnership with the University of Hull, providing degree-level qualifications through the college's campus network.
• D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerD2N2 LEP allocated £3.5 million from the government's Getting Building Fund to support the refurbishment of The Bridge Skills Hub in Worksop, a project led by RNN Group/North Notts College to close higher-level skills gaps in the region.
• Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)coreOthersNorth Notts College receives government funding through the Education & Skills Funding Agency for eligible Further Education and Apprenticeship programmes.
• European Social Fund (ESF)minorOthersEuropean Social Fund co-finances skills and employment programmes at RNN Group colleges, supporting adult learning and workforce development initiatives.
• Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Foundation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented at the grand opening of The Bridge Skills Hub in March 2023, indicating a strategic interest in health sciences curriculum alignment and potential future health sector training partnerships.
• Bassetlaw District CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBassetlaw District Council participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Bridge Skills Hub and has been a partner in the vision to bring higher education and skills training to the Worksop town centre.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dearne Valley College: Another RNN Group member college serving the Dearne Valley area with vocational FE and apprenticeship programmes. Directly comparable as a sister college sharing back-office, governance, and curriculum standards under the same parent group.
• Barnsley College: South Yorkshire FE college offering vocational qualifications, T Levels and apprenticeships across similar subject departments. Comparable on funding mix, catchment overlap and target learner demographics.
• Rotherham College: A fellow RNN Group Further Education college in Rotherham offering vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships and higher education across overlapping subject departments. Directly comparable on funding model, curriculum structure, governance, and target learner segments.
• University Centre Rotherham (UCR): RNN Group's HE-focused campus offering HNCs, HNDs, foundation degrees and degree top-ups in Rotherham. Closest peer for North Notts College's higher education provision at The Bridge Skills Hub, sharing validation partnerships and academic standards.
• New College Doncaster: Doncaster-based FE college delivering vocational training, T Levels and apprenticeships. Comparable on regional South Yorkshire positioning, learner demographics, and competing for apprenticeship and employer training demand.
• West Nottinghamshire College: FE college serving Mansfield and surrounding North Nottinghamshire districts with vocational courses and apprenticeships. Directly competes for the same Bassetlaw-adjacent learners and apprenticeship levy-funded employer training.
• Nottingham College: Large Nottingham-based FE college delivering vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships and HE across a broad curriculum. Closest geographic direct competitor for North Nottinghamshire learners and employer training budgets.
• Chesterfield College: Derbyshire-based FE college providing vocational courses, apprenticeships and HE programmes. Directly comparable on rural/semi-rural catchment profile, employer engagement model, and ESFA-dependent revenue mix.

Broad incumbents

• The Sheffield College: Larger South Yorkshire FE college offering a broad vocational and HE portfolio across multiple campuses. Comparable as a regional incumbent competing for the same post-16 and adult learner pool across South Yorkshire.
• RNN Group: Parent group encompassing North Notts College, Rotherham College, Dearne Valley College and University Centre Rotherham. Comparable as a multi-college FE/HE operator with shared governance, central services, and consolidated funder relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NNC_Worksop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-notts-college

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 North Notts College