ACE Training

23/10/2026

Started a course and already wondering if it is the right one for you?

Sometimes the hardest part is admitting that the route you started is not working for you.

Maybe you have realised you learn better by doing rather than sitting in a classroom.

Maybe you want to develop practical skills.

Maybe you have started a course and simply cannot see yourself doing it for the next two or three years.

That does not mean you have got it wrong. It might just mean you need a different route.

At ACE Training, our Pre-Apprenticeship programme is roll-on, roll-off, so you do not have to wait for September 2027 to make a change!

You will get hands-on construction training alongside the employability and life skills that help prepare you for the workplace - from communication and teamwork to confidence, responsibility, time management and financial awareness.

And because we work with learners as individuals, it is not just about teaching you a trade. It is about helping you understand your strengths, develop your confidence and take the next step towards an apprenticeship and employment.

If what you are doing now is not feeling right, come and talk to us. You might have more options than you think.

📞 Give the ACE Training team a call on 01865 370040 or join us at our Open Morning TOMORROW - Saturday October 24th between 10am and noon.

21/10/2026

You can raise FREE donations for ACE Training and Consultancy - Kidlington EVERY time you shop online.

Just use ! Over 8,000 retailers will donate, including all the big names like John Lewis & Partners, BT, Expedia, Argos, ASOS, Just Eat, Uswitch and many more!

Please support us:

Help us when you shop with 7,000+ brands. Join now.

20/10/2026

Come and visit us this Saturday!

We are celebrating 20 Years of Building Futures - and we know it is about much more than learning a trade!

At ACE Training, we help young people develop the practical skills, confidence and employability skills they need to take their next steps towards an apprenticeship and employment.

From communication and teamwork to problem-solving, time management and taking responsibility, we know that being work-ready is about more than the qualification you achieve.

Our Pre-Apprenticeship programme offers hands-on construction training in a supportive environment, helping young people discover their strengths, build confidence and prepare for what comes next.

And you do not have to take our word for it!

📅 Come and see for yourself this Saturday, 24 October, from 10am until noon at our Open Morning.

Meet the team, have a look around, find out more about our training and discover what makes ACE Training different.

Whether you are thinking about your next steps after school or currently on a post 16 pathway that is not right for you and you would like a change. We would love to meet you.

📍 ACE Training, Kidlington - 15a Station Field Industrial Estate

Come along, ask questions and see what we are all about!

16/10/2026

Really proud to be finalists again last night at the Oxford Climate Awards in the Further Education School/College of the Year category!

After being finalists in 2024 and winners in 2025, it’s great to have this recognition again in our 20th anniversary year.

Always inspiring to be in a room with so many amazing Oxfordshire businesses and organisations, all passionate about sustainability.

Great to see so much good work happening across Oxfordshire!

14/10/2026

Some of the most important things you learn at ACE Training will not appear on your qualification.

How to speak confidently to someone you have never met.

How to accept feedback without taking it personally.

How to work with people who think differently to you.

How to manage your time.

How to take responsibility when something goes wrong.

How to understand a payslip, budget your money and think about the financial responsibilities that come with becoming an adult.

How to have the confidence to put your hand up and say, “I need some help with this.”

These are all skills for work and for life.

At ACE Training, employability is not something we leave until the end of a programme. We build it into our training because we know that technical skills alone are not always enough to build a successful career.

For some of our learners, it is also about finding confidence they did not know they had.

Taking on responsibility. Working with others. Speaking up. Trying something new. Seeing themselves differently.

That is where we believe training can make a real difference.
20 Years of Building Futures is about much more than construction skills. It is about helping young people become ready for whatever comes next.

Interested in finding out what a different kind of training environment could offer? Get in touch with us for a chat and come and see what ACE Training is all about. Call 01865 370040 or email [email protected]

13/10/2026

A big thank you to JDS Property Renovations for their donation of surplus wood. We have been able to put most of it to good use in our workshop, and the rest has been put aside for our Wood Burner which heats the building in the colder months!

If you have any materials to donate that you think we may be able to reuse or repurpose, please email Amy Cotton [email protected] or call her on 01865 370040 to discuss.

07/10/2026

Learning a trade is only part of the journey.

Knowing how to lay bricks, build a roof or carry out a practical task is important. But ask an employer what makes a young person successful at work and you will hear about much more than technical ability.

Can they communicate?
Can they work as part of a team?
Do they turn up on time and take responsibility?
Can they listen to feedback, solve problems and adapt when things do not go to plan?
Do they have the confidence to ask questions when they are unsure?

These are the employability skills that can make a real difference when someone moves from training into the workplace.

At ACE Training, we do not see these as extras. They are built into what we do every day.

Our learners get hands-on construction training, but they also have opportunities to develop confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership, resilience, financial awareness and the professional behaviours that employers expect.

Because our aim is not simply to help young people gain a qualification. It is to help them become well-rounded, work-ready individuals who are ready for what comes next.

And that is something we have been doing for 20 years.

If you are thinking about your next steps after school and want to find out more about a practical route into construction, give us a call or get in touch with the ACE Training team. 01865 370040

#𝖲𝗄𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖣𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗉𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍

06/10/2026

We are finalists in the Oxford Climate Awards 2026!

We are elated to have been named a finalist in the Sustainable Further Education School/College of the Year category at this year’s Oxford Climate Awards.

Organised by the Oxford Mail and Oxford City Council, the awards celebrate individuals, community groups and organisations taking action to tackle the climate emergency and help build a greener Oxford.

This is a category that means a lot to us at ACE. We were finalists in 2024 and winners in 2025, so we are particularly proud to be recognised again this year for the work we continue to put into sustainability and reducing our environmental impact.

The Sustainable Further Education School/College of the Year category is sponsored by The Lucy Group.

The 2026 winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Oxford Town Hall next Thursday 15th October.

We are very proud to be shortlisted alongside some fantastic organisations and look forward to celebrating with all the finalists.

01/10/2026

If you’re a fan of Clarkson’s Farm, you’ll know the message: No Farmers, No Food.

Well, when Alan the builder was in the centre yesterday, he came up with his own version: No Builders, No Houses. 🧱

And we couldn’t agree more!

Alan is supporting four new apprentices this year - two bricklayers and two carpenters and is helping the next generation build the skills they need for the future.

Great to have Alan back at ACE and great to see employers continuing to champion apprenticeships. 👏

30/09/2026

As our month long celebration of community and social impact comes to a close, and as we continue celebrating 20 years of ACE Training, we wanted to share some thoughtful reflections from our newest team member Amy.

There's an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child.

ACE Training know that it also takes a community to help a learner thrive.

Every learner who walks through our doors brings their own experiences, strengths and aspirations. Some know exactly where they want to go, while others are still discovering their path. What they all need is confidence, support and opportunity.

Those opportunities don't exist in isolation. They are created by people, businesses and organisations across our communities.
Whether it's an employer offering a learner their first apprenticeship, a business providing work experience, a professional sharing their knowledge, or someone simply believing in a young person's potential, every action matters.

The support may seem small, but for someone building skills, confidence and a future, it can be life-changing.

At ACE, we are proud to work alongside employers, partners and community organisations who help make these opportunities possible every day. Together, we are not just developing skills. We are helping people achieve their goals, strengthening local businesses and building stronger communities for the future.

As ACE reflects on 20 years of impact, the team would like to thank everyone who has been part of that journey.

Because it really does take a community to help a learner thrive.