In August 2012, two landbased colleges based in Norfolk (Easton) and Suffolk (Otley) joined forces and Easton and Otley College was born. Before coming together, both of these colleges had a collective history of teaching hundreds of thousands of students totalling over 100 years.
The two colleges were set up to meet the needs of the agricultural and land based in East Anglia and the rest of the UK.
The move meant that two reasonably small local colleges could then compete with other bigger players initially on a regional level – with the ultimate aim of becoming a national player.
Because of the merger, Easton and Otley College has become the fifth biggest landbased college in the country in terms of the amount of students they teach, the amount of courses they offer and the staff they employ.
With around 700 staff and 5000 students, most recently Easton and Otley received a 'Good' Ofsted grading with outstanding features.
Over £40 million has been invested into new facilities across both campuses to in the last 12 years.
New facilities in Suffolk include greenhouses, agricultural barns, a landbased construction centre and an animal centre.
New facilities in Norfolk include the creation of an animal centre that was opened by the TV vet Steve Leonard, a state of the art 3G pitch that is used by the sports department and the opening of a new construction centre.
In the next 12 months, investment in farming facilities at both campuses will occur.
The Suffolk campus based just outside Ipswich is also in the early stages of trying to develop an animal themed visitor attraction.
Easton and Otley provides a wide range of learning opportunities and covering activities working with primary schools all the way through to those studying on PHDs.
The college also offers apprenticeship programmes, commercial and business training and a host of leisure courses for people of all ages. The two most popular leisure courses in recent years have related to tree surgery and dog grooming.
For more information about the college, you can call 08000 224556 or visit www.eastonotley.ac.uk
Why is Easton and Otley College sponsoring these awards?
Easton and Otley College is delighted to be involved in the Bury Free Press Business Awards 2016 for the third year running.
We are sponsoring the environmental / green award category as environmental issues are very important to us as a college - both in principle and practice. Last year, the entries for this category were very varied and diverse and it was brilliant to travel across West Suffolk and see the passion that people have for this subject via their work.
We are hoping for the same high standard of entries and commitment to green issues again in 2016.
As a person who was born in Bury St Edmunds, it’s always great to attend these awards and find out about all the great things that are happening in the town.
The stories that you hear about - of businesses both small and large - are always inspirational.
Representing a college whose student population is made up of around 15pc of people from Bury and the surrounding villages, it’s a pleasure to be involved in this celebratory occasion that helps fly the flag for Bury - one of Britain’s undoubted national treasures.
The two colleges were set up to meet the needs of the agricultural and land based in East Anglia and the rest of the UK.
The move meant that two reasonably small local colleges could then compete with other bigger players initially on a regional level – with the ultimate aim of becoming a national player.
Because of the merger, Easton and Otley College has become the fifth biggest landbased college in the country in terms of the amount of students they teach, the amount of courses they offer and the staff they employ.
With around 700 staff and 5000 students, most recently Easton and Otley received a 'Good' Ofsted grading with outstanding features.
Over £40 million has been invested into new facilities across both campuses to in the last 12 years.
New facilities in Suffolk include greenhouses, agricultural barns, a landbased construction centre and an animal centre.
New facilities in Norfolk include the creation of an animal centre that was opened by the TV vet Steve Leonard, a state of the art 3G pitch that is used by the sports department and the opening of a new construction centre.
In the next 12 months, investment in farming facilities at both campuses will occur.
The Suffolk campus based just outside Ipswich is also in the early stages of trying to develop an animal themed visitor attraction.
Easton and Otley provides a wide range of learning opportunities and covering activities working with primary schools all the way through to those studying on PHDs.
The college also offers apprenticeship programmes, commercial and business training and a host of leisure courses for people of all ages. The two most popular leisure courses in recent years have related to tree surgery and dog grooming.
For more information about the college, you can call 08000 224556 or visit www.eastonotley.ac.uk
Why is Easton and Otley College sponsoring these awards?
Easton and Otley College is delighted to be involved in the Bury Free Press Business Awards 2016 for the third year running.
We are sponsoring the environmental / green award category as environmental issues are very important to us as a college - both in principle and practice. Last year, the entries for this category were very varied and diverse and it was brilliant to travel across West Suffolk and see the passion that people have for this subject via their work.
We are hoping for the same high standard of entries and commitment to green issues again in 2016.
As a person who was born in Bury St Edmunds, it’s always great to attend these awards and find out about all the great things that are happening in the town.
The stories that you hear about - of businesses both small and large - are always inspirational.
Representing a college whose student population is made up of around 15pc of people from Bury and the surrounding villages, it’s a pleasure to be involved in this celebratory occasion that helps fly the flag for Bury - one of Britain’s undoubted national treasures.