In 2008, Wiltshire had a resident population of 455,500; as the population growth rate has been above the national average for 25 years, this was projected to reach the significant half-million mark around 2020.

In Wiltshire, the workforce is well qualified. Working age economic activity and employment is significantly higher than national or regional averages, although the region’s workforce is also highly skilled. In the south west region, 47% of the working age population have qualifications at NVQ levels 3 and 4+.

Young people are doing well too. The proportion of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and Mathematics, was 53%, considerably above national and regional averages.

There are 237 schools in Wiltshire, including 184 primary schools and 29 secondary schools. The region is also served by six colleges: New Swindon College ; Salisbury College ; Sarum College; Swindon College; Urfchont Manor College and Wiltshire College.

Pre-16 education is supported by 20 designated children’s centres, while post-16 education and training is provided by 20 mainstream schools, Wiltshire College and a number of further education colleges in the surrounding area. 

In the region, Ofsted has acknowledged 14 childcare centres, six primary schools, and the Corsham School - Visual Arts College, a secondary school, with ‘Outstanding Providers’ awards.

Wiltshire College

Wiltshire College, the main provider of further and higher education in Wiltshire, has an excellent reputation for quality and innovation.

There are 3,300 full-time students and 6,000 part-time students studying on four main campuses and seven smaller centres throughout the county. Courses available include administration, agriculture, amenity, horticulture and landscaping, animal care, science and management, art and design, business, catering and hospitality, computing, construction, care and education, engineering, health and social care, land-based engineering and farm mechanisation, land-based skills, media production, music, performing arts, sport, travel and tourism, and woodland, game and wildlife management.
Wiltshire College also offers specialised courses and expertise in automotive engineering, vehicle technology and motorsports engineering, with a purpose built 6,500 square feet workshop at Castle Combe Circuit.

In addition to their current apprentice programme and the Employers Responsive Team (a dedicated division created to deliver high quality skills development and training solutions to industries and occupational areas), Wiltshire College is developing The South West Composites Gateway (SWCG), a collaboration between a group of further and higher education providers to support innovative business solutions in the aerospace and advanced engineering sector. 

These sectors are subject to constant innovation through the adoption of new technology, new materials and production techniques. It is important that knowledge and skills are constantly developed to match the needs of the businesses within the South West in these sectors.
In addition there are plans to develop an Engineering Performance Centre at Wiltshire College which will work closely with the SWCG in its role of supporting the region’s industries in providing not only composite expertise, but other areas as well, such as design, manufacturing and engineering, materials analysis, testing, repair and, ultimately, disposal.