NCG is an ambitious organisation with a unique proposition which straddles the Further and Higher Education sectors. Comprising seven colleges, located right across England, NCG works with thousands of learners and businesses every year, regionally and nationally, to help them reach their full potential and build a talented workforce through high-quality education and training. NCG is also one of the largest not-for-profit training groups in the UK. Its collaborations with business is key to its success in supporting employers who want to invest in their workforce. NCG is driven by a clear and compelling mission — "Enabling social mobility and economic prosperity through exceptional education".
NCG operates two colleges in London: Lewisham College and Southwark College. The two colleges initially joined NCG as a single college, but in 2020 they became distinct with their own separate boards and leadership teams. Each College has its own strategic plan, which aligns with NCG's overall organisational strategy.
Lewisham College is a thriving, dynamic further education college based across two campuses in Lewisham and Deptford. It welcomes all students and has a track record of unlocking their potential through enjoyable learning to gain qualifications and personal and professional development, positioning them well to secure future employment. The College has a long-standing tradition of providing education and much more in the heart of Lewisham and works hard to offer exciting and relevant opportunities for young people and adults which support them on their learning journeys. The College has an income of around £24m, enrols c. 4,000 learners, and employs 327 staff. For more on Lewisham College's strategy to 2030, follow this link.
Like Lewisham, Southwark College is one of the top performing colleges in London. From its £42m state-of-the-art campus in Southwark, it offers a vast range of programmes, from vocational courses for 14-16 and 16-18 year olds, to apprenticeships and Access to Higher Education courses. Southwark College is an essential part of the community, and will play a key part in the Borough's 'Local Jobs for Local People' strategy, providing the essential 21st century skills and training required by the labour market. The College has an income of around £12m, enrols c. 2,700 learners, and employs 170 staff. Southwark's strategy to 2030 can be found here, however with a new Principal having joined the College in September 2022, a fresh strategic planning process is underway.
As NCG looks to the future, it is focused on continuing to deliver an outstanding quality of education for all of its learners across its seven colleges; it will work with government and employers to ensure it is contributing to the government's skills agenda; and it will allow its colleges to carve out their own unique identities as they serve their particular communities. NCG as a whole was rated 'Good' by Ofsted in 2022, and it intends to be 'Outstanding' by the time of its next inspection.