On Course South West

What On Course South West does

On Course South West (OCSW) is the dedicated adult learning service of Plymouth City Council, operating as a public-sector education provider headquartered at Cobourg House, Plymouth, UK. Founded in 2015 and employing 11-50 staff, it delivers adult education, vocational training, and apprenticeships to up to 3,000 learners annually across South West England. Its curriculum spans professional qualifications (AAT-accredited Accountancy & Bookkeeping, Business Admin & Customer Service, AQA-accredited Maths & English GCSEs, NCFE-accredited vocational programmes, CMI management), sector-specific vocational training (Health & Social Care, Childcare & Education, Digital), five-sector apprenticeships (Health & Social Care, Business Admin, Accountancy & Finance, Digital & ICT, Content Creation & Marketing), Skills Bootcamps, SEND Supported Internships (Your Future), the Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre, Family Learning in primary schools, a Plymouth Learning Hub, and a Hobby Hub for creative/cookery/languages. International mobility is provided through the UK Turing Scheme.

The organisation's technology foundation is a third-party web-based course management and enrolment system hosted at coursesocsw.cognisoft.cloud, supporting course browsing, learner management, and self-service information; there is no proprietary platform, no mobile app, and no developer-facing API. The business model is publicly funded: revenue is derived from DfE grants covering adult skills, 16-19 provision, apprenticeship levy, and skills bootcamps, with course fees (subject to reduced-fee eligibility, financial support, and instalment plans) as a secondary stream. GTM is hybrid — direct-to-consumer via Learning Advisor appointments, community outreach, and an online course portal for individual adult learners, combined with direct employer engagement for apprenticeship placements across sectors. Distribution is through the central Cobourg House hub, community venues across Plymouth, and on-site employer workplace delivery. OCSW operates within Ofsted and Matrix Standard regulatory frameworks and is positioned via its Strategic Plan 2026-2030 to meet anticipated demand from Plymouth's designation as a key UK defence growth area and National Centre for Marine Autonomy.

Name

On Course South West

Legal name

On Course South West

Website

https://oncoursesouthwest.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

On Course South West is Plymouth City Council's dedicated adult learning provider, delivering vocational courses, apprenticeships, and foundational education to up to 3,000 adult learners annually across South West England through publicly funded programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education and Vocational Training

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (61142), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM), Adult Basic Education (ABE) & Foundational Skills Remediation (EDANAJAK), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Productivity & Office Software Skills (EDAAAIAC), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Adult education
• Vocational training
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Professional qualifications
• Skills bootcamps

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth, Devon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Adult Education: As Plymouth City Council's dedicated adult learning provider, On Course South West receives public funding to deliver adult education and skills training. The service offers reduced fees, financial support, and instalment payment options for learners. The organisation also accesses various funding streams including adult skills, 16-19, apprenticeship, and skills bootcamp funding.
2. Apprenticeship Training: Delivers apprenticeship training across multiple sectors (Health & Social Care, Business Admin, Accountancy & Finance, Digital & ICT, Content Creation & Marketing) funded through apprenticeship levy and government funding mechanisms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

On Course South West delivers publicly funded adult education and skills training in Plymouth, including apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, GCSE and Functional Skills in Maths & English, AAT-accredited Accountancy & Bookkeeping, digital and ICT training, Health & Social Care, Childcare & Education, SEND Supported Internships, the Plymouth Learning Hub (Wellbeing, Digital Skills, Employability, Volunteering), Family Learning, Hobby Hub courses, E-Learning qualifications, and the Turing Scheme international placements. Delivery is via in-person classes at the main Plymouth hub and community venues, supplemented by online learning and employer workplace apprenticeship delivery, welcoming up to 3,000 adult learners annually.

Product overview

On Course South West is Plymouth City Council's dedicated adult learning provider, offering a diverse portfolio of educational programmes delivered through classroom-based, online, and apprenticeship formats. The service welcomes approximately 3,000 adult learners annually. The core offering spans professional qualifications (Accountancy & Bookkeeping with AAT accreditation, Business Admin & Customer Service), vocational training (Health & Social Care, Childcare & Education, Digital Training), and foundational education (Maths & English GCSE/Functional Skills). Specialised programmes include Apprenticeships across five sectors (Health & Social Care, Business Admin, Accountancy & Finance, Digital & ICT, Content Creation & Marketing), the Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre providing Level 3 engineering apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps for rapid skills development, and SEND Programmes (Your Future Supported Internships) for learners with additional needs. The Plymouth Learning Hub delivers Wellbeing, Digital Skills, Employability, and Volunteering courses, while Family Learning programmes support parents in primary schools. Hobby Hub offers creative arts, cookery, and language courses for personal development. The E-Learning platform provides online qualifications, and the Turing Scheme enables international learning experiences. All programmes are supported by a network of curriculum leads, learning advisors, and partner organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apprenticeships
• Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre
• Skills Bootcamps
• Maths & English (GCSE/Functional Skills)
• Accountancy & Bookkeeping
• Digital Training and Qualifications
• Digital Skills for Life & Work
• Health and Social Care
• Childcare & Education
• Business Admin & Customer Service
• SEND Programmes (Your Future Supported Internships)
• Plymouth Learning Hub (PLH)
• Family Learning
• Hobby Hub (Creative/Arts, Cookery, Languages)
• Turing Scheme
• E-Learning Qualifications
• Professional Qualifications
• Counselling
• Employability

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• Odils Learning FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based charitable enterprise specialising in teaching English as a second language. Empowers people through teaching of English and vocational courses, supporting people isolated by language and culture. Helps learners access further education and employment opportunities.
• ShekinahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevon-based charity providing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. Helps address health issues, find and support people in their own home, learn new skills and receive help finding work. Develops personal learning plans with targets for learners.
• Skills LaunchPadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Skills Journey workshops covering skills, training, education, careers and jobs. Weekly employability workshops help people find work, prepare for jobs, or improve work opportunities.
• Discovery CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning education provider delivering vocational courses for ages 16-19. Runs the #Futures programme - a 10-week course developing employability skills and progression opportunities. Part of YMCA Plymouth.
• Plymouth City CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCSW is Plymouth City Council's dedicated adult learning provider and post-16 education provider. PCC provides funding, strategic oversight and operates Skills for Plymouth Strategy through OCSW.
• Department for Education (DfE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing funding oversight and regulatory framework for adult education, 16-19 provision, apprenticeships, and skills bootcamps.
• YMCA PlymouthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Discovery College partnership, YMCA Plymouth delivers vocational courses and the #Futures programme for young people.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South Devon College: Regional further education college in South Devon offering apprenticeships, adult learning, GCSEs, and vocational qualifications across sectors overlapping with OCSW's portfolio. Comparable scale and adult community education remit, serving an adjacent South West geography.
• The Skills Network: UK adult learning provider offering distance learning and apprenticeships in business admin, digital skills, and vocational sectors that overlap with OCSW's portfolio. Comparable funding model with DfE adult skills and apprenticeship levy streams.
• Learning Curve Group: National adult learning and apprenticeship provider offering digital skills, employability programmes, and vocational training funded through DfE, apprenticeship levy, and skills bootcamp streams - the same funding mechanisms OCSW accesses. Comparable adult education model at national scale.
• PETA Limited: Portsmouth-based independent training provider specialising in engineering and technical apprenticeships, including the Level 3 engineering programmes that mirror OCSW's Plymouth Engineering Skills Centre offering. Directly comparable in apprenticeship delivery focus.
• Petroc: Devon-based further education college delivering apprenticeships, adult education, professional qualifications, and GCSEs across North and Mid Devon. Comparable adult learning model with similar multi-sector apprenticeship and community-based provision to OCSW.
• City College Plymouth: Direct geographic peer: City College Plymouth is the main further education college in Plymouth offering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and adult learning programmes that overlap directly with OCSW's portfolio. Both serve the same catchment and compete for the same Plymouth adult learner and employer base.

Regional players

• Weston College: South West further education college offering apprenticeship, adult education, and SEND supported internship programmes that closely parallel OCSW's service mix. Operates in the same broader South West region with similar Ofsted-registered, multi-sector delivery.
• Truro and Penwith College: Cornwall-based further education college with adult learning, apprenticeship, and vocational programmes aligned with OCSW's portfolio. Operates as the regional PCC-equivalent adult learning provider in Cornwall, with a comparable council-linked governance and DfE funding model.

Others

• NCFE: National awarding organisation whose qualifications OCSW delivers; NCFE accredits many of OCSW's vocational and adult learning programmes and represents the broader ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Department for Education (DfE) Adult Skills: Central government department providing the adult skills, apprenticeship, and skills bootcamp funding that underpins OCSW's operations. Functions as the primary funder and regulator rather than a competitor, but its policy decisions directly determine OCSW's funding envelope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/oncoursesw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OnCourseSW
• Instagraminstagram.com/oncoursesw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oncoursesw

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 On Course South West