Central College Nottingham

What Central College Nottingham does

Central College Nottingham, operating commercially as Nottingham College, is a Further Education (FE) provider based in Nottingham, England, delivering 500+ courses across vocational, academic, apprenticeship, and higher education pathways. It operates eight campuses across Nottingham and Ruddington, serving students aged 14+ (school leavers, adult learners, university-level students) plus employer clients. Core product lines include 16–18 courses, A Levels (High Pavement Sixth Form), T Levels, 19+ adult courses, University Level (HNC/HND/degree top-ups), and apprenticeships across 12 sectors. Specialist facilities include an airline cabin, crime scene house, simulated hospital ward, automotive workshops, and an Esports centre, with £10M+ invested to date.

The college's technology stack comprises a Further Education digital learning platform (Century Tech for initial assessments), student management systems (EBS, Student Track, E Track, E-ILP), a virtual learning environment, a Craft CMS-managed website, and a student portal (My Nottingham College). The Emtec sub-brand operates as a specialist automotive training division delivering apprenticeships and CPD programmes, with partnerships across major OEMs and accident repair groups including Hyundai, Aston Martin, KGM Motors, Chery Group, Steer Group, Halfords Autocentre, and ABL 1Touch.

Revenue is diversified across four primary streams: government funding via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for publicly funded courses; tuition fees for adult learners (19+); Apprenticeship Levy funds drawn from employers; and university-level fees eligible for student loans. A secondary commercial training stream (notably Emtec) generates additional income from employer-paid CPD and bespoke training. Go-to-market combines direct enrollment (open events, clearing, campus visits), employer engagement through dedicated apprenticeship and employer services teams, and community outreach via Schools Hub and Industry Advisory Boards across 15 sectors. The college is Ofsted-rated Good and reports 97% student progression to employment or further education.

Name

Central College Nottingham

Legal name

Nottingham College

Website

https://centralnottingham.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nottingham College is a Further Education provider in Nottingham, UK, delivering 500+ vocational, academic, apprenticeship, and higher education courses across eight campuses to students aged 14+ and to employers, with specialist automotive training through the Emtec division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF), Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

Keywords

• Further education
• Vocational training
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Higher education courses
• Professional upskilling

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Education: Primary revenue from Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for publicly funded courses. Funding for 16-18 year olds and adult education programmes.
2. Tuition Fees: Fees charged to students aged 19+ for further education courses, with loan options through Student Loans Company for eligible programmes.
3. Apprenticeship Levy Funds: Revenue from employers using Apprenticeship Levy contributions to fund apprenticeship training programmes.
4. University Level Fees: Higher education tuition fees for degree and HNC/HND programmes, eligible for student loans.
5. Commercial Training Services: Employee training, professional upskilling, and consultancy services through Emtec automotive division and professional development programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Central College Nottingham is an independent Further Education provider offering academic and vocational courses for students aged 14+ across multiple campuses in Nottingham and Ruddington. It delivers A Levels, T Levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships across 12 industry sectors, and university-level programmes (HNC, HND, degree top-ups). The Emtec sub-brand provides specialist automotive training for employers including Hyundai, Aston Martin, and KGM Motors.

Product overview

Nottingham College operates as a Further Education provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services. The core offerings include vocational and academic courses for students aged 14+ across multiple pathways: 16-18 courses, A Levels (at High Pavement Sixth Form), T Levels, courses for adults aged 19+, and University Level higher education programs including HNC, HND, and degree top-ups. Apprenticeship programs span 12 industry sectors with employer partnerships. The Emtec sub-brand provides specialist automotive training with manufacturer partnerships (Aston Martin, Hyundai, KGM Motors, Steer Group). Public-facing facilities include Fletchers restaurant/theatre, Loom Hair and Beauty Salon, Art Shop, and Once Upon a Time Nursery. Supporting services include career guidance (Career Coach), work placements, Industry Advisory Boards across 15 sectors, and employee training/professional upskilling. Facilities open to the public generate revenue while providing real-world training environments for students. The college has invested over £10 million in industry-standard facilities across eight campuses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Emtec: A specialist and globally renowned provider of automotive education and training, operating as a strategic partner within the automotive sector offering apprenticeship training and CPD programmes.
• High Pavement Sixth Form
• Fletchers Dining, Theatre and Events
• Loom Hair and Beauty Salon
• Once Upon a Time Nursery

Products and services

• 16-18 Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of students progress on to employment or further education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Chery GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Partnership with UK's fastest growing automotive brand. Luke Garratt, UK Technical Training Manager at Chery Group, involved in apprenticeship programme development with Nottingham College.
• Miller KnightminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Construction and regeneration company helping shape Nottingham College's Corporate Social Responsibility Framework.
• Steer Group (Automotive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteer Group is the UK's largest independent accident repair group with 93 locations and 2,200+ colleagues. Nottingham College delivers automotive apprenticeships through Emtec for Steer Group, supporting their carbon zero and EV transition goals.
• KGM Motors (formerly SsangYong)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korean automotive manufacturer exporting to 126+ countries. KGM Motors apprenticeship programme delivered through Emtec for technician training.
• Hyundai UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyundai Motor Company delivers UK Technical Apprenticeship Programme through Nottingham College. College provides expert staff, facilities, and hands-on training equipping apprentices with Hyundai specialist skills.
• Aston Martin UK DealershipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury automotive brand dealership apprenticeship programme delivered through Emtec at Nottingham College for specialist technician training.
• Halfords AutocentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutomotive retail and service network apprenticeship programme for autocentre technicians delivered through Emtec.
• ABL 1Touch AutomotivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutomotive apprenticeships partnership through Emtec for accident repair technician training.
• Gemini Accident RepaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccident repair apprenticeship programme partnership for technician training.
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUH NHS Trust staff training including NVQ programmes. Laundry Services achieved 40%+ productivity improvement. Wider Workforce training for healthcare staff.
• CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurope's largest healthcare partnership. Leadership management training (ILM Award) for managers.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTU invests over £350 million in campuses. Partnership for apprenticeship recruitment for School of Science and Technology. Three apprentices recruited in under two weeks.
• Keepmoat Regeneration (ENGIE Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading UK regeneration services provider. Approximately 8% of workforce are trainees, apprentices, and graduates. Construction industry apprenticeship support.
• British GypsumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's leading plaster manufacturer. Thistle Partnership member (one of 60 colleges). CPD sessions for building practices and training needs.
• Jigsaw24minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIT company serving 25,000+ customers. Apprenticeship recruitment matching candidates to company ethos.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South & City College Birmingham: Large FE provider in Birmingham offering a broad mix of vocational courses, apprenticeships, and HE pathways. Comparable scale and curriculum breadth, and a competitor for regional Apprenticeship Levy contracts in the Midlands.
• Barnsley College: Mid-sized FE college in South Yorkshire offering vocational, academic, apprenticeship, and HE programmes. Operates with a similar funding mix and employer-engagement model to Nottingham College, though at smaller scale.
• Leeds City College: Large multi-campus FE provider in West Yorkshire offering vocational, academic, apprenticeship, and HE programmes. Operates as part of the Luminate Education Group and competes with Nottingham College for the same FE/apprenticeship funding pool and large-employer apprenticeship contracts in the North/Midlands.
• Weston College: Large FE college in the South West notable for specialist apprenticeship delivery and employer partnerships. Comparable to Nottingham College for the apprenticeship and employer-training revenue model, though smaller in geographic reach.
• City of Bristol College: Large FE college in Bristol offering vocational and academic programmes, apprenticeships across multiple sectors, T Levels, and HE pathways. Comparable to Nottingham College in terms of multi-sector apprenticeship coverage and public-sector funding reliance.
• Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMET): Large FE college in the West Midlands with multiple campuses offering A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, and HE. Directly comparable scale and product breadth, and competes with Nottingham College for West Midlands-based employer apprenticeship contracts.
• Newcastle College: Major FE college in the North East, part of NCG, offering A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and HE programmes with employer partnerships. Closely comparable in scale, curriculum breadth, and the multi-campus operating structure typical of UK large FE providers.
• The Manchester College: One of the largest FE colleges in the UK, operating multiple campuses across Greater Manchester and offering a similarly broad curriculum including A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and university-level programmes. Closely comparable scale and product mix to Nottingham College, with the same employer-led apprenticeship model and ESFA funding base.

Others

• Steer Automotive Group: UK's largest independent accident repair group with 93 locations and 2,200+ colleagues. Named employer partner of Nottingham College/Emtec for automotive apprenticeships and EV transition training, and thus a key customer and channel rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Nottingham Trent University: Large regional university and named apprenticeship partner of Nottingham College. Overlaps in HE provision (HNC, HND, degree top-ups) and competes for the same university-level students in the East Midlands catchment, though at a higher price point.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reel/28150170891287864
• Instagraminstagram.com/reel/DcIxcGlN0EX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centralcollegenottingham

Compliance3 records

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 Central College Nottingham