Inspire Education Group (IEG) — comprising Stamford College, Peterborough College and University Centre Peterborough — is celebrating another record-breaking year, with over 6,000 full-time 16–19-year-olds choosing to take their next steps with Stamford and Peterborough Colleges. This marks an increase of more than 300 students compared to September 2024.
Parents, students and employers are recognising IEG as a provider of choice, thanks to its strong outcomes and sector-leading teaching. In 2024/25, IEG was ranked in the top 10% of General Further Education Colleges nationally and the top 20% for high-grade achievement in GCSE English.
This growth reflects not only the quality of education and training across the Group but also the breadth of opportunities available — from A Levels, Diplomas, T Levels and Apprenticeships to adult retraining and degree-level qualifications through University Centre Peterborough.
Inspire Education Group was also named Large Business of the Year at the 2025 Rutland & Stamford Mercury Awards.
Recent investment in facilities has further strengthened IEG’s reputation. Earlier this year, IEG officially unveiled its £13.5 million Centre for Green Technology (CGT) at Peterborough College — a landmark facility designed not only to address the UK’s green skills shortage, but to serve as a bold example of how education can directly power economic growth, workforce readiness, and environmental responsibility.
The £13.5 million project was partly funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), with £2.471 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, £400,000 from the Local Growth Fund, £1.9 million from Peterborough City Council via the Towns Fund, and the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (£1.42 million). IEG's contribution to the project was £8.3M, with £5.5M from the DFE capital loan scheme and £2.8M from IEG's capital reserves.
IEG celebrated the launch of the Centre for Green Technology in May 2025. From left to right: Sam Carling MP, David Pennell, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Andrew Pakes MP, Paul Bristow.
This year also marks 15 years of higher education at University Centre Peterborough, which has recently been recognised with Silver status in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the introduction of degree apprenticeships. Over 80% of graduates in 2025 graduated with a 2:1 or above, further emphasising the quality of teaching at University Centre Peterborough.
The Platform Party at University Centre Peterborough's graduation ceremony. From left to right: Cllr John Fox, Mayor of Peterborough Cllr Judy Fox, Liz Knight, Prof. Sir Les Ebdon, Rachel Nicholls, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow, Mayor of Stamford Cllr Amanda Wheeler.
© 2025 — Inspire Education Group
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