Educational Excellence

With access to some of the UK's finest universities and most talented people, East Sussex is home to pioneering academic research and development facilities.

Schools and colleges offer parents a wide choice of educational options, from primary schools located in small villages to well equipped state schools and private colleges. Working parents can also take advantage of a large number of registered pre-school playgroups and nursery facilities.

The county also boasts a range of options for further and higher education including several universities and the UK's first University College.

Sussex Coast College Hastings

Sussex Coast College Hastings has the biggest 6th form and adult education offer in the Hastings and Rother area with 2,500 full-time students and over 5,000 people studying part-time. Located across two main campuses, Station Plaza in Hastings town centre and Ore Valley under a mile away, the college's academic and vocational courses attract 16-18 year olds from Hastings, Bexhill, Rother and beyond. SCCH offers A Levels in more than 30 subjects to students who wish to follow a more academic route and the successful International Baccalaureate programme attracts students from all over the world. The college offers courses from entry level 3 to Higher Education courses (level 5) Its comprehensive vocational offering covers 14 out of the 15 sector/subject areas including (but not limited to):

• Health, Public Services and Care
• Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies,
• Construction & the Built Environment
• ICT
• Leisure, Travel & Tourism
• Arts & Media
• Business & Administration
• Education & Training
• Foundation Learning

The college works closely with local employers and builds its employer engagement programme around the needs of these partnerships. It has delivered Train to Gain qualifications since their inception in 2006/7 and has achieved above the national average in more than 20 NVQ qualifications. The Apprenticeship programme also requires close collaboration with local business and the college has recently increased its number of Apprenticeship frameworks to 15. Full cost (not centrally funded) courses are offered by the college in various subject areas most notably in renewable and sustainable technologies at the college's satellite Energy Centre at Castleham Industrial Estate.

Education-led regeneration is one of the Sussex Coast College’s strategic aims and in April 2009 it was successful in securing funding from Hastings Borough Council in the form of a 2 year Area-based Grant worth £2.6m. The college is using this funding to lead a consortium of local community providers to raise the skills and aspirations of 3,425 people living in Hastings and St Leonards, helping to empower them to be work-ready and able to access the full range of job opportunities available as the economy moves out of the recession.

The college is one of only four FE colleges in the country accredited by the National Enterprise Academy. It is accredited by the National Skills Academy Nuclear, is a Wella Centre of Excellence and has been awarded Investors in People status.

The University of Brighton

The University of Brighton has an established track record of providing practical solutions to meet the challenges
of an ever changing business environment. It has 19,000 students and 2,100 staff based on four campuses in Brighton and Eastbourne.

The university has grown steadily since designation in 1992 and offers a wide range of subjects as diverse as: automotive engine design, law with accountancy, midwifery, three-dimensional design, architecture and pharmacy.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/index.php

Teaching and research quality

The University of Brighton has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK coupled with a strong research record, factors which contribute to its reputation as a leading post-1992 university. The last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) found more Brighton academics working at international standards of excellence than any other post-1992 university.

At Brighton, all research is ‘applied’ or ‘yet to be applied’. The university focuses on the kind of research that makes a difference to people’s lives; whether that means preventing diabetes and age related illness, or finding new ways to clear contaminated land for industry. In this application, the business community and public service sector become critical partners.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/research/

Professionally-focused education

The university’s culture has always supported professionally-focused education and produces students and graduates who are work-ready and in tune with their community and environmental responsibilities. For example, entrepreneurship and enterprise content is actively included into many degree course programmes, to develop graduates with innovative minds, and many courses are accredited by professional bodies.

Working with business

The University of Brighton has its roots planted in the business community of the south east of England and makes a substantial contribution to the sustainable success of the region. Working with business and industry is a fundamental part of its purpose and it offers many options for collaborative working including knowledge transfer, consultancy and collaborative research. The university’s specialists can assist in developing models and prototypes and in testing new products and materials. They can also run independent trials to provide data needed for validating new products.

Specialist sectors include engineering, product design, creative industries, natural sciences, environment and sustainability, pharmaceutical and bio-science.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/business/

The university also runs the business development and support programme Profitnet, which helps SMEs in the region to flourish.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/profitnet/

Staff training and development

The university offers employer-focused higher-level education which is flexible and cost-effective. This means that employers can offer training and development to their staff in a way that suits the demands of the workplace, as well as building up credits towards a full award at Graduate Certificate or Masters level. Employers can choose content from a wide range of educational partners, and also add elements of their own in-house training courses to create their own unique programme.

Specialist facilities for R&D

Facilities include high-resolution electron microscopes capable of magnification up to 1 million times, mass spectrometer, human movement laboratory for bio-mechanical and ergonomic evaluation and category 3 microbiology laboratory.

These facilities are available to companies of all sizes and across a range of industry sectors.

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/business/facilities/index.php?PageId=125

In the first instance please contact Nick Rodgers on 07983 443556 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Economic and Social Engagement
University of Brighton
Exion 27
Crowhurst Road
Hollingbury
Brighton BN1 8AF

Tel: 01273 642389
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/business/

University of Sussex

The University of Sussex was the first of the new wave of universities founded in the 1960s, receiving its Royal Charter in August 1961. Nearly 50 years on, the University has become a leading teaching and research institution.

In the 2010 Times Higher Education magazine's World University Rankings, Sussex is ranked 8th in the UK, 16th in Europe and 79th in the world, setting us alongside some of the world's most prestigious institutions.

Innovative research and scholarship

Sussex is a leading research university, as reflected in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. Over 90 per cent of Sussex research activity was rated as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised, confirming the University among the leading 30 research universities in the UK, on a simple average across all scores. 18 subjects rank in the top 20 for research in the UK, across the arts, sciences and social sciences, with American studies ranked number 1 in the UK, Politics number 2, and Art history number 3.

Business and the community

Sussex has a long tradition of engaging with business and the community, which continues today through activities such as the Sussex Innovation Centre, public lectures and service to the community. Our goal is to help businesses and organisations in the region develop higher staff skill levels through training, and to stimulate innovation through partnership with other institutions outside Sussex to benefit the wider society.

The Sussex Innovation Centre provides support for the creation and growth of technology- and knowledge-based companies in Sussex. The Centre is now a thriving business environment for nearly 80 high-growth companies. Since its creation over 160 companies have been based at the Centre; their cumulative revenue is now over £250 million and the companies currently employ many hundreds of people in the local area.

Sussex University staff

Sussex has developed a reputation for innovation and inspiration, and attracts leading thinkers and researchers. We have over 2,200 staff, including around 550 teaching faculty, and 280 research faculty. We have counted three Nobel Prize winners, 13 Fellows of the Royal Society, six Fellows of the British Academy and a winner of the prestigious Crafoord Prize on our faculty.

International Sussex

From its foundation, Sussex has had an international perspective to its academic activities and its outlook. The University attracts staff and students to its campus from over 120 different countries across the world. Nearly a third of staff come from outside the UK.

Our research tackles major world issues, with leading areas of expertise such as climate change and development studies. The University has extensive links with many institutions worldwide, such as Peking University, National Taiwan University and the Harvard-Sussex programme.

Sussex Downs College

Sussex Downs College (SDC) is one of the biggest further educational (FE) colleges in England and the biggest in Sussex. It has campuses in Eastbourne and Lewes with Skill Centres in Newhaven, Hailsham and Uckfield.

The college was established in 2001 though a merger with three smaller colleges in the region - Lewes Tertiary College, Park Sixth Form College and Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology. They are now known as Lewes 6th Form College, Park College and Eastbourne Vocational College (EVoC).

The college regularly has a high intake with 50% of all 16-18 students attending Sussex Downs College. Just over 4, 500 students attend one of the sixth form colleges, over 750 young people aged 14-16 attend the day-release programmes including Diploma courses and over 540 apprentices come to study at either Lewes or EVoC.




Overall it has over 16,000 students, 1300 staff, and with a turnover of £45m, it is one of the major businesses and employers in Sussex.

The college has an enviable track record of success in recent years – including an outstanding OFSTED inspection, Beacon Status and the Training Quality Standard certification in recognition of the quality of its work with employers.

The college is also a founding member of the 157 group, which was established in 2006. The group aims to enhance the reputation of FE colleges, share best practice and play a major role on developing future policies for FE.

The college also offers a range courses for mature learners through its Adult College including weekend leisure courses, qualifications leading to professional status, access to HE and in association with University of Brighton, foundation degrees.

The Employer Training aims to build relationships with businesses in the region by offering valuable learning and training opportunities to all members of the community by helping people gain new skills - whether it’s changing job roles, returning to employment or preparing to start their own business venture. And through helping employers to consolidate, compete and expand their businesses through developing their workforce.

The International College is a vibrant and energetic part of the college community whose aim is to help European and international students achieve their learning goals.
For further information on all the college areas log onto the college web site www.sussexdowns.ac.uk CHECKED 1/11/10

Sussex Innovation Centre

The Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC) is one of the premier business incubators in the UK. Opened in 1996 it provides support for the creation and growth of technology and knowledge based companies in the South East.

The Centre provides excellent facilities and is a thriving business environment for over 40 high growth companies working within the IT, Biotech, Media and Engineering sectors.

The Innovation Centre was conceived as the flagship development of the 'Sussex Academic Corridor' (SAC). Working very closely with the University of Sussex, the Centre is a unique collaboration between the public, academic and business sectors committed to harnessing the economic potential of the extensive education
and research resources available in the Sussex area.

Plumpton College

Originally established in 1926 as the county's agricultural college, Plumpton College has a rich heritage and over the years has gained a reputation for excellence throughout many land-based industries.

Located near Lewes, it specialises in providing a wide range of land-based courses ranging from internal courses for school leavers to specialist courses for rural business.

The college has always worked closely with business and has established a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Rural Business Management Training. Bespoke training courses can be delivered, taking account of changes in legislation or specific business needs.

For further information telephone 01273 892052.