At SMB College Group, we are proud to have so many individuals and businesses working with us on apprenticeships and work experience opportunities, in addition to contributing as speakers, patrons, and sponsors.
Our partners share both our values and our commitment to supporting students to achieve their full potential. We work with hundreds of businesses both locally and nationally across a wide range of sectors.
We know that the support of such great businesses enables us to continue to deliver relevant and up-to-date knowledge, experience, and training.
You can find out more about some of our partners below.
Future Elite Sports
SMB College Group works with Future Elite Sports to offer students the opportunity to continue their football development whilst studying a full-time Further Education or degree course in Sport or Sports Science.
Students who are selected for the Future Elite Academy benefit from UEFA qualified coaches, strength and conditioning training, performance analysis and recovery support alongside their academic studies.
Our goal with this partnership is to ensure that students reach their maximum potential, both academically and athletically.
Leicester Tigers
Melton Town FC
We are pleased to be working with our local Melton Town Football Club alongside our Sports Department, providing our Sport & Sports Science students with opportunities and experience within the football industry.
De Montfort University
SMB College Group partnered with De Montfort University (DMU) in 2022 working together through a validation process to provide Foundation Degrees with respective 1-year top-up Degrees in Performing Arts and Childhood, Education & SEND, to students at the college.
This is the beginning of a fantastic journey of learning, development and exploration – and on that journey, DMU staff work closely with the college programme teams to support, coach and inspire our students.
As an undergraduate you can experience the benefits of student life at university. Our partnership agreement with DMU enables our students to access its facilities whilst studying on one of our DMU-validated undergraduate courses. This includes:
- Kimberlin Library
- De Montfort Student Union
- Accommodation Services
- QEII Sports Centre (swimming pool, climbing wall, football and basketball courts, fitness suite etc)
“I am delighted to see our partnership with the SMB College Group, which began in 2022, embodying our strategy and exemplifying a ‘partnership with purpose’. Having approved the partnership for the delivery of undergraduate programmes, DMU is fully committed to supporting the growth and development of Higher Education at SMB.
As DMU responds to local, national and global business needs, providing flexible ways to upskill our students, SMB programmes provide a strong mix of vocational and academic skills development that contribute to outstanding student degree outcomes. The close working relationship between SMB and DMU colleagues is an important ingredient and we very much look forward to ensuring our collaboration with SMB goes from strength to strength.”
Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University
Toyota Materials Handling UK
Toyota Materials Handling UK have more than 100 years of combined material handling excellence.
Their mission is to bring customers exceptional efficiency in their material handling operations, offering top quality industrial trucks to suit all material handling needs including forklift trucks and warehouse equipment. They also support the industry with leading services and solutions, including truck rental, used trucks, service & maintenance, parts & accessories, and operator training.
In collaboration with SMB College Group, Toyota Materials Handling UK offer a range of apprenticeships in Forklift Engineering, with opportunities available across the nation.
Barratt Developments
Barratt Developments is one of the country’s leading house builders. The Group employs over 6000 people and supports 45,000 jobs nationally.
SMB College Group works alongside the company to recruit, train and employ the apprentices they need to meet the needs of their business. Barratts employ a range of apprenticeships covering many disciplines, including carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, plumbing and electrical maintenance.
Redrow
Redrow is a leading, premium housebuilder dedicated to giving people a better way to live.
For nearly 50 years, they have been creating high quality homes and communities for customers, building over 100,000 homes across the country.
Worcester Bosch
Worcester Bosch’s is delighted to be in Partnership with SMB College Group; placing a strong emphasis on training, which is mutually beneficial to both the college and ourselves.
With the significant changes within the heating industry needed to reach zero carbon by 2050; manufacturers, education establishments as well as the wider industry need work together to support skilled engineers of the future.
The Worcester Bosch’s College Links programme enables our experienced Engineers to train SMB students on existing and new technologies to help them meet the challenges of the future which for us is essential for the future of the industry.
The collaboration with SMB Group will help students excel and be inspired by our training programmes ensuring they are relevant, to the latest standards in the ever-evolving market.
VINCI Construction UK
VINCI Construction UK is a national construction and facilities company and is the largest British subsidiary of VINCI. VINCI Construction UK has strong relationships with other VINCI companies and subsidiaries and, as a result, can leverage ideas, skills and entrepreneurial flair to deliver top-quality work in all sectors. VINCI companies in the UK turn over in the region of £2 billion per annum and employ circa 9000 employees.
VINCI offer a wide range of high-quality apprenticeships across many disciplines with us here at SMB College Group, including Technical Construction, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Electrical Maintenance, Plumbing, Mechanical Engineering, and Business and Administration.
Sanctuary Housing
Sanctuary Group is a housing and care provider which was set up in 1969 to deliver housing and care to those who need it most, and that original purpose still guides them today. They own and manage around 100,000 homes and, to help tackle the UK’s housing crisis, are building 30,000 new homes by 2026.
Sanctuary's award-winning apprenticeship programme offers you a chance to study for Practical Construction qualifications while contributing to the success of a fast-paced, constantly evolving organisation. Apprentices work towards a recognised qualification while gaining fantastic practical experience at the same time.
Landex
Landex stands for ‘Land-based Colleges & Universities Aspiring to Excellence' and is a subscriber organisation with 36 member Colleges and Universities in England and 3 Members in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
SMB College Group is a member of this organisation, which means that we must deliver significant volumes of education and training in land-based occupational areas. From Agriculture to Equine and plenty more in between, SMB College Group is the leading provider of Land-based education in the region.
Additionally, our Principal is on the board of Landex to help determine the strategic direction of the organisation and monitor performance.
Greenfields Countryside Ltd
Offering a wide range of countryside management services, Greenfields Countryside Ltd provides the highest standards of work at a competitive price. Exceptional Health and Safety is our benchmark and we pride ourselves in our professionalism, always delivering an outstanding service to our clients. Greenfields offer services in the areas of Arboriculture, Ecological, Fencing, Forestry, Landscaping & Maintenance and Planting. We work in all areas of the UK, including Scotland, undertaking projects of all sizes. We are based in the East Midlands, however our projects have taken us to locations across the country.
CITB
CITB is the industry training board for the construction sector in England, Scotland, and Wales. Their focus is to help the construction industry attract talent and to support skills development to build a better Britain.
SMB College Group is an Approved Training Organisation with CITB, which means we provide high-quality construction training courses and qualifications to a defined and industry-agreed training standard.
Resideo
Resideo are a $5 billion business that has created technology and smart solutions that integrate seamlessly with customers lives, built over their 130+ year heritage of taking care of the home, workplace, and people. Resideo have products licenced under the Honeywell Home brand, too, with over 6.7 million customers using their connected devices.
The partnership between SMB College Group and Resideo brings new technology developments into the classroom, to train the next generation of Plumbers on the latest advancements and products in the industry. Resideo is using one of the Stephenson Campus’ classrooms for training throughout the year and will also be supporting SMB College Group students to gain new skills.
Logistics UK
Logistics UK is one of the biggest business groups in the UK, supporting, shaping and standing up for efficient logistics. We are the only business group in the UK that represents all of logistics, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.
An effective supply chain is vital to Keep Britain Trading, directly impacting over 7 million people employed in making, selling and moving the goods that affect everyone everywhere. With Brexit, technology and other disruptive forces driving changes in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK PLC.
As champions and challengers, Logistics UK speaks to Government with one voice on behalf of the whole sector, greatly increasing the impact of our messages and achieving amazing results for members, who represent a large cross-section of the industry including hauliers, suppliers, retailers, local authorities, freight forwarders, freight handlers, vehicle manufacturers and others.
Ragdale Hall Spa
Ragdale Hall Spa is a multi-award-winning, dedicated spa, with extensive facilities and indulgent treatments. With six pools, over 100 therapists and an innovative fitness and relaxation programme, Ragdale Hall Spa is one of the best spa locations in the UK. SMB College Group has been working with Ragdale Spa sending Beauty Therapy students from Stephenson and Melton Campuses to carry out work experience alongside their studies, which often leads to employment at the Spa on a full-time or part-time basis.
SMB College Group have recently been recognised by Ragdale Hall Spa as a “College of Excellence” for their hard work in educating high quality therapists and creating excellent relations.
Twycross Zoo
From 2024, we've partnered with Twycross Zoo to offer Work Experience placement for a select number of our Level 3 Animal Studies students!
Set in the heart of England on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border, Twycross Zoo is an internationally recognised charity, existing to support conservation, education, and research of some of the world’s most endangered species. Spanning 100-acres, the zoo gives visitors a day out with a difference – having fun and discovering hundreds of animals, whilst supporting vital global conservation projects to save them.
Ideal Heating
Ideal Heating was founded in 1906, meaning that they have over 100 years of providing the best quality boilers to their customers, continually working to meet the ever-changing needs of the domestic heating industry.
Today, Ideal remains at the forefront of the domestic and commercial heating markets, leading the industry in setting new standards and challenging technological boundaries.
SMB College Group are working with Ideal Heating to create a cutting-edge workshop space at their Stephenson Campus, where the college will deliver training on Air Source Heat Pumps - a low-carbon, sustainable heating and cooling option for domestic settings.
If you are interested in becoming a partner of SMB College Group, contact one of the team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01530 519 001 to discuss how you can help.