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College innovation and employer engagement surveys

AoC survey report on employer engagement in colleges 2026

The 2026 Association of Colleges (AoC) Employer Engagement Survey provides a comprehensive overview of how further education (FE) colleges in England engage with employers to support skills development, student progression, and workforce readiness. Drawing on responses from 105 colleges (representing 48% of the sector), the findings highlight both the scale and strategic importance of employer engagement, as well as the significant challenges facing its future delivery.

Employer engagement in the FE sector is well established; the vast majority of colleges (90%) have a formal employer engagement strategy and 84% provide dedicated online information for employers, demonstrating a clear institutional commitment.

Despite this commitment, employer engagement remains challenging – particularly where sustained placements or job vacancies are required in order to deliver provision and due to internal constraints (e.g. lack of funding, insufficient staffing capacity, affordability issues, and challenges ensuring provision meets employer needs). 

The survey recommends improving coordination at a national level, strengthening employer incentives and engagement, improving coordination at a local level, and establishing sustainable, long-term funding.

Read the report here

AoC survey report on innovation in colleges 2025

The AoC survey report on innovation in colleges 2025 finds a strong and growing strategic commitment among colleges to support local employer innovation. With 86% of colleges having identified this role as strategically important, the survey shows this belief is increasingly being translated into action.

The survey findings also discovered there is a growing desire to further develop innovation centres and “plug-and-play” spaces where businesses can access college expertise, equipment, and students.

However, it is also recognised that a substantial number of colleges have not secured stable, specific innovation funding, formal research partnerships, or fully operational business incubation facilities, with staff CPD support constraints limiting deeper research engagement with local businesses.

Among the recommendations, the survey’s accompanying report argues that AoC should advocate for multi-year funding cycles (3+ years) to allow colleges to embed innovation teams and measure impact over time. Using the results of this survey as the basis for future innovation collaboration would support Innovate UK to make the case to the Treasury for further funding and help forge links that will be crucial for the country’s economic growth.

Read the report here

Previous years' innovation survey reports: