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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

City College Plymouth is a large vocational and technical General Further Education (GFE) College offering both Further and Higher Education (FE and HE) provision and is a significant contributor to the educational, cultural and economic life of Plymouth.

The College's Eight Strategic Actions

The College’s Strategic Intent 2021 set out eight strategic actions to achieve our vision to be the Learning Destination of Choice.

By 2031, our strategic action will ensure that:

  • 100% of teachers undertake a dedicated programme of professional development, focused on achieving and sustaining excellence in teaching, learning and assessment, as set during vigorous performance reviews
  • the College achieves a 3% increase in student numbers year-on-year
  • all programme areas have a robust route map in place
  • all programme areas have access to meaningful industry placements
  • the College achieves a 5% increase in levels of positive destinations for all students
  • the College achieves a 5% annual growth in our community learning offer
  • the College is graded ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED
  • we have produced and implemented a City College Plymouth ‘learning philosophy’ which becomes the overarching guiding principles of the College.

By 2031, our strategic action will ensure that:

  • we are known as an employer of choice,demonstrated through staff and stakeholder surveys, enabling us to recruit and retain excellent,experienced staff-retention 90%
  • the uptake of CPD and wellbeing initiatives have increased by 75%
  • develop and strengthen our staff through open performance management, mentoring and coaching to enable each individual to have true accountability and ownership for their role within our College
  • all staff are engaged with an open, responsive check-in and restore performance process
  • all staff feel connected to our culture and values.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • ensure that the College is an award-winning FE EdTech provider, with our use of digital technology recognised as best practice in the sector
  • ensure that the College is a leading FE provider for digital futures in the wider South West region, running industry recognised microcredentials in the disciplines of AI, machine learning, cloud computing, cyber security, networking, mixed realities, programming, data analytics and UX/UI
  • address digital equity and social mobility by embedding essential digital skills into all College provision; providing exposure and access to emerging technology in all curriculum areas, and ensuring all students have access to the technology to thrive on their course regardless of programme with a one-to-one onsite student to technology ratio.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • successfully maintain overall ‘good’ financial health post capital investments
  • achieve a minimum of 4% EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest,Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation)
  • maintain a minimum of 30 days ‘cash’
  • sustain staffing costs of no greater than 66% of income
  • secure £5million of new income.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • improve our financial position – 5% year-on-year growth of health, science and wellbeing provision
  • ensure continuous improvement of all stakeholder satisfaction levels to maintain the College’s overall Ofsted outstanding rating
  • contribute to the city’s health and social care agenda and participate in the design and engagement of health and wellbeing hubs
  • continue to build our regional and national reputation by collaborating with organisations such as NHS England, to provide innovative opportunities which directly support a skilled workforce and the broader ecosystem
  • increase stakeholder engagement to support the strategic action through a co-designed and endorsed curriculum.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • ensure that 25% of engineering and construction students study blue and green skills within their courses that meet the
    needs of local, regional and national employers
  • develop the Sherford Training Centre to include a groundworks
    and steel fixing centre
  • develop a funded Centre for Engineering & Nuclear Skills to meet the needs of Babcock, their supply chain and their
    customers
  • sign service-level agreements with 20% of large businesses (sector relevant) across the city
  • create and deliver new curricula to contribute to the overall target of £5m of new income.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • reduce category C graded buildings at the Kings Road site by  20%
  • increase the category A buildings within the College estate by a minimum of 10%
  • contribute to a greener, fairer city through 25% reduction in our carbon emissions, achieving carbon neutral by 2030
  • seek investment to undertake radical redevelopment of the estate to align with our ambitious and city priorities.

By 2031, our strategic action will:

  • ensure that the College has developed an adult education focussed curriculum area, responsive to students, employers and wider stakeholders
  • ensure the adoption and completion of three key strategic priorities as the lead focus to the strategic action – opportunities for each of the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years. Each with defined project parameters to deliver growth and meet stakeholder need
  • secure £1.8m of new curriculum revenue funding to diversify College income and drive innovative delivery.

Plymouth Growth Board

The College sits on the highly influential Plymouth Growth Board, the primary forum for public/private engagement that shapes city-wide activity.

This is the delivery partnership of the local growth plan of which the local skills plan is one of the key pillars. Our involvement with this group is significant with the chair of this board also being the College’s Chair of Governors. Our Chief Executive also sits on this board. Other representation includes the Chief Executives of Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and the University of Plymouth; as well as leaders from key employers across the city such as Princess Yachts, Babcock International Group, Livewell and the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Membership of this group ensures that the College reflects the needs of the city.

Development Fund

The College is an active partner in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College, Yeovil College, Strode College, Petroc, South Devon College and Exeter College.

An important element of our close regional working relationship within the Devon Colleges Group has been to map our curriculum across the region to ensure that there is effective curriculum coverage to meet skills needs identified through LMI and stakeholder engagement. As a result of this collaboration adult Apprenticeships are mapped for the region.

Our Apprenticeship Offer

Apprenticeship programmes, covering all the key industrial sectors.

Click below to view the breadth of the course offer currently available. With programme at level 1 through to Intermediate Level, Advanced Level 3 and Higher Level (Level 4 and 5), there is sure to be an offer to meet your training needs.

Why choose City College Plymouth?

Find out how we can be your learning destination of choice.

4,024

full-time students

8,425

part-time students

12,449

total number of students

1,594

apprentices