Portsmouth is proud to be the home of the University of Portsmouth, several colleges and multiple adult training providers. These training facilities provide local employers, individuals and communities with the skills needed to drive economic growth while creating meaningful careers.
Adult education and training providers in Portsmouth
City of Portsmouth College
The merger of Highbury College and Portsmouth College created City of Portsmouth College (COPC). The college offers A Levels, T Levels, vocational diplomas, apprenticeships, and higher education qualifications across a range of academic, technical, professional, and vocational programmes.
COPC has also invested in creating the UK’s first net zero training hub at their North Harbour campus in partnership with leading specialists NetZero Training, driving forward their commitment to green technology, training, and sustainability.
City of Portsmouth College has four campuses:
- Highbury Campus (Cosham)
- Sixth Form Campus (Baffins)
- Arundel Campus (City Centre)
- North Harbour Campus (Paulsgrove)
COPC also offer a range of community resources such as an onsite nursery, a sports centre, a hair and beauty salon, a commercial restaurant, as well as facilities for hire including a theatre, recording studio, and ensuite delegate accommodation.
For more information see City of Portsmouth College website.
Fareham College part of the South Hampshire College Group
Fareham College provides a wealth of specialist resources for training and upskilling.
Fareham College has three campuses:
- Bishopsfield Road Campus (Fareham)
- CEMAST (Lee-on-the-Solent)
- CETC (Lee-on-the-Solent)
South Hampshire Group has three sites:
- Fareham College
- City College Southampton
- Eastleigh College
Over 2,000 learners are based at the Bishopsfield Road campus, where courses include photography, fashion, graphic design, performing arts, hospitality and catering, beauty and hairdressing, business, computing and digital industries, health and social care, science, and uniformed public services and many more.
All Automotive, Engineering and Manufacturing programmes run by Fareham College are delivered at the CEMAST campus, located at the Daedalus airfield in Lee-on-the-Solent. Since it opened in 2014, the CEMAST campus has become renowned as a pioneering state-of-the-art facility in terms of its industry-leading workshops, technology, and equipment.
The Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) was established in 2017 by local civil engineering employers set up the Solent Civil Engineering Employer Group (SCEEG) in conjunction with Fareham College to create a unique apprenticeship training programme that would address these issues, support the construction industry across the region.
For more information see Fareham College website.
HSDC
The HSDC group deliver A-Levels, professional and technical courses, higher education, T-levels, and apprenticeships. They offer full time programmes for school leavers, professional part time courses for those in employment, and employability skill courses to support employment opportunities. They also offer online training, access courses, higher education programmes and international study opportunities.
HSDC has three campuses:
- Havant Campus (Havant)
- South Downs Campus (Waterlooville)
- Alton College campus (Alton)
Their Havant Campus is home to an A-Level centre of excellence. HSDC is currently investing £1.25M into their Gaming & Creative Digital Studios. Vocational and technical courses are delivered at the South Downs Campus.
HSDC also offer a range of community resources such as an onsite nursery, ‘Inkfluence Print’, a commercial hair and beauty salon, a commercial restaurant, a community hub, and venue hire.
For more information see HSDC website.
PETA
With over 50 years’ experience, PETA is Portsmouth’s leading provider of corporate training, apprenticeships, and consultancy services, offering over 200 courses and apprenticeship programmes.
A pioneer in lifelong learning and career transformation, PETA specialises in training for today’s most in-demand professional, digital, and technical skills.
PETA was built by local businesses, for local businesses, and are run by an elected council made up from their member base of over 300 companies. Its members help it shape the future of corporate training in business, which means that their courses, qualifications, and apprenticeships are always relevant to the market and sought after by employers.
With a background in engineering, today PETA also specialise in providing training and services in digital/IT, health and safety, management and leadership, business improvement and more. PETA provide flexible training through several formats including, short courses, one day training, blended in-person and e-learning, company sponsored training, apprenticeships, through a range of recognised academic qualifications or industry standard training.
Find out more on PETA website.
The Learning Place
The Learning Place is run by the council’s Community Learning Service with an aim to provide high quality learning experiences for adults living and working in and around Portsmouth. They provide adult education and family learning alongside apprenticeship courses.
Available apprenticeships cover business, education, health & social care. They also provide training in maths (such as the Multiply programme), English and IT and a range of accredited courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications in employability skills, food & hygiene, and children’s mental health.
Many courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the majority are free. For courses with a fee, there is a reduction for those on income-related benefits.
Find out more on The Learning Place website.
University of Portsmouth:
The University of Portsmouth provides higher education to over 31,000 students every year, with 5,700 of them travelling internationally from over 150 countries across the world.
The university employs over 2,700 staff, making it one of Portsmouth’s largest employers, alongside the Royal Navy and Portsmouth NHS Trust. QS World University Rankings give Portsmouth university 5 stars for teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities, arts and culture, and inclusiveness, with the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings recognising it as one of the UK’s best universities established during the last 50 years.
94% of its graduates are either in employment or pursuing further education. The 2023 National Student Survey of final year undergraduates placed the university 23rd for students’ satisfaction with their university experience.
The University of Portsmouth is heavily focused on links with the business community, the same facilities used for their research are also open to businesses. Off campus, the university have facilities in partnership with other businesses and organisations including the Southern Water treatment plant, the Harwell Science and Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire, and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France.
The University is continuing to develop its campus as part of its £400m Estates Masterplan – which features refurbishments, redevelopments and new buildings across the campus and city, including a brand new BREEAM UK rated sustainable indoor sports centre.
Find out more on University of Portsmouth website.
Many courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the majority are free. For courses with a fee, there is a reduction for those on income-related benefits.
Find out more on The Learning Place website.
UTC Portsmouth
UTC Portsmouth is the only STEM specialist college in the region. They provide education and training in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects and offer an academic and technical learning environment for young people aged 14-19 years old.
Alongside the national curriculum, UTC Portsmouth specialises in mechanical and electrical engineering and advanced manufacturing, offering engineering study programmes as well as A levels and GCSEs.
The UTC has one campus in Hilsea.
Regular engagement with employers and partners is at the core of UTC Portsmouth. Our founding members are: The University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council, the Royal Navy, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Airbus and QinetiQ.
UTC Portsmouth is also a:
- Lead school for the Institute of Physics
- Lead school for Solent LEP’s careers hub of the Solent LEP
- Lego Innovation Education Studio
- Stonewall College Champion
- UTC Cyber Group Member
The founding members of the UTC are: The University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council, the Royal Navy, BAE Systems, QinetiQ, and Salterns Academy Trust. Other key partners include: Raymarine, Airbus and NATS.
Find out more on UTC website.