Education and training in East Sussex
East Sussex has a broad and varied educational landscape which is a major factor for many employees when considering joining a company, retraining for a new role, or relocating to a new area.
Alongside our university offering, East Sussex has a strong focus on on-the-job training through practical NVQ courses and apprenticeships, allowing students to progress their knowledge and experience at the same time whilst contributing to the local economy. There is also a spotlight on sector-focused retraining schemes for students and adults considering career changes.
East Sussex has two internationally ranked universities, University of Sussex and University of Brighton, with both their main campuses in Falmer. Between them, they provide companies with the potential to access a talent pool of over 36,000 students, including 8,000 postgraduates and over 5,000 international students, drawn from more than 150 different countries.
The universities also make a significant contribution to the local and regional economy, employing 4,800 staff and directly contributing just under £1bn to the economy each year.
Both institutions work in close partnership with local businesses and employers to help prepare students for their future within local companies. This level of collaboration is also present between business and our further education providers who offer a wide range of courses and apprenticeships. East Sussex College Group consists of five main campuses – two in Hastings, one in Eastbourne, one in Lewes, and one in Newhaven.
The county also has a wide choice of pre-school, primary and secondary schools and some of the most respected fee-paying and state-funded schools in the country including many alternative educational choices for parents considering a move to East Sussex.
Apprenticeships in East Sussex
Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity for businesses and employees, allowing them to be able to work and study simultaneously, with 80% of time being on-the-job training (80%), and the rest dedicated to getting a nationally recognised qualification (20%).
East Sussex acts as a real advocate for Apprenticeships as employing apprentices can not only help businesses with turnover, increase staff morale, and improve efficiency but also open training sessions enable the apprentice to see the bigger picture when it comes to the industry, they work in. There are also various grant programmes and funding available to employers, to incentivise the employment of apprentices, upskilling the local workforce and ensuring the right skills are available for the local economy.
The Sussex Council of Training Providers is a community of training providers that offer apprenticeships, work-based learning or pre-employment training in Sussex. They work with employers to grow their businesses by giving them the opportunity to network with other businesses and key partners operating within the skills sector, and represent training providers in Sussex to promote education and training opportunities to schools, local community groups, and business networks, via the Apprenticeships in Sussex website.
Education and Training Institutions East Sussex
Investment in Education
Skills East Sussex
East Sussex County Council is committed to improving the delivery of skills for engineering, construction, health and social care, creative, digital and media and land-based sectors.
Skills East Sussex (SES) is the county’s strategic body for employment and skills. The group aims to drive an improvement in local employment and skills in order to increase economic prosperity in East Sussex. Using a firm evidence base, it agrees and sets priorities, and provides direction for the county’s approach to employment and skills.
To support the work of its Enterprise Advisers, they are looking for dynamic and enthusiastic Industry Champions to work directly with young people in the County on a range of activities. Their aim is to build a network of Industry Champions that can represent an array of job roles and career paths from all industries and in particular the county’s priority sectors. Industry Champions will be individuals working at any level be it as CEOs, sole traders, freelancers, or apprentices, who have an interest in sharing their experience of work and promoting their industry.
Find out more about Skills East Sussex or Careers East Sussex
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