Debbie Houghton, with over 25 years’ experience in further education and strong employer engagement credentials, has been appointed Group Principal for Apprenticeships, Partnerships & Innovation at Capital City College, signalling a renewed focus on apprenticeship growth and business development in London.
Capital City College (CCC), the largest further education institution in London, has appointed Debbie Houghton as its new Group Principal for Apprenticeships, Partnerships & Innovation, effective this month. Bringing over 25 years of experience in further education, Houghton joins CCC with a proven track record in leading apprenticeship provision and business development. Her appointment aims to enhance CCC’s ability to deliver high-quality education and workforce development within London.
Houghton arrives from Gower College Swansea, where she recently served as Interim Director of Work-Based Learning. Before her tenure there, she spent eight years at Bedford College Group, most recently as Executive Director for Apprenticeships, Business Development & Commercial. During her career, she has held multiple senior roles across further education colleges in the South East Midlands, progressing from lecturer to executive leadership. Her deep understanding of skills development and strong commitment to employer engagement position her as a strategic asset to CCC’s leadership team. Speaking about her new role, Houghton described the opportunity to expand and innovate apprenticeship and training programmes in central London as both exciting and personally meaningful, noting family roots in East London that make this appointment feel like a homecoming.
Capital City College’s Chief Executive, Angela Joyce, welcomed Houghton warmly, highlighting her extensive experience and passion for apprenticeships and innovation as aligned perfectly with the college’s mission to provide high-quality education for both students and employers. Joyce emphasised that Houghton’s leadership will be key to strengthening employer partnerships and expanding opportunities across the capital.
Houghton’s previous role at Bedford College Group further underscores her credentials. She was promoted to the executive leadership team in 2022 and has been responsible for shaping the strategic direction and performance of apprenticeships and business development. Notably, she completed an MBA through a Senior Leadership and Management Degree Apprenticeship, reflecting both her academic and practical commitment to the apprenticeship pathway. Her work included active engagement with government officials on educational funding and apprenticeship promotion, notably through high-profile visits to Downing Street and participation in national apprentice initiatives. These activities underline her advocacy for apprenticeships as a viable and increasingly valued route into skilled, long-term employment.
At Gower College Swansea, Houghton was instrumental in leading the ‘Better Jobs, Better Futures’ team, which collaborates closely with employers to tailor apprenticeship opportunities that meet business needs. These partnerships have been praised by companies such as Arvato Bertelsmann for bridging skills gaps and preparing the workforce for future challenges.
The appointment of Debbie Houghton marks a significant step for Capital City College in bolstering its apprenticeship and business development agenda. Her extensive experience and sector-wide recognition promise to drive forward CCC’s ambitions to connect education tightly with industry demands, thereby delivering tangible benefits for learners, employers, and the communities they serve.
Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1], [2]
- Paragraph 2 – [1], [2]
- Paragraph 3 – [1], [2], [3]
- Paragraph 4 – [4], [5], [6]
- Paragraph 5 – [7]
- Paragraph 6 – [1], [2]
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://london-post.co.uk/capital-city-college-appoints-debbie-houghton-as-new-group-principal/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://london-post.co.uk/capital-city-college-appoints-debbie-houghton-as-new-group-principal/ – Capital City College (CCC), London’s largest further education institution, has appointed Debbie Houghton as its new Group Principal for Apprenticeships, Partnerships & Innovation, effective this month. With over 25 years in the further education sector, Debbie joins CCC from Gower College Swansea, where she served as Interim Director of Work-Based Learning. Prior to this, she spent eight years at Bedford College Group, most recently as Executive Director for Apprenticeships, Business Development & Commercial. Debbie has held numerous senior roles across further education colleges in the South East Midlands, progressing from lecturer to curriculum manager, director, and ultimately executive leadership. Her deep understanding of the further education sector and commitment to employer engagement and skills development make her a valuable addition to the college’s leadership team. Debbie expressed her excitement about the opportunity to drive growth that empowers individuals and strengthens communities through high-quality education and workforce development. Angela Joyce, Chief Executive of Capital City College, welcomed Debbie to the team, highlighting her extensive experience and passion for apprenticeships and innovation, which align perfectly with the college’s mission to deliver high-quality education for students and employers.
- https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/about/news/top-team-announced/ – The Bedford College Group has announced its new executive leadership team, including Debbie Houghton as Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Business Development. Debbie joined the group in 2017 and was appointed to the Executive Leadership Team in the summer of 2022. In her current role, she is responsible for the overall strategic direction and performance of the Apprenticeships and Business Development Teams. Debbie expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead, manage, and collaborate with some of the best people in the sector, and she enjoys working at the Group, as it enables her to continue her professional development within ‘the best college in the region’. She is most proud of being promoted to the Executive Leadership Team as well as completing her MBA.
- https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/community-news/leading-by-example/ – Debbie Houghton, Executive Director of Apprenticeships, Business Development, and Commercial at The Bedford College Group, completed a Senior Leadership and Management Degree Apprenticeship, leading to an MBA. This program allowed her to develop her skills and knowledge of strategic leadership and management while gaining practical experience of studying through work as an apprentice. Debbie’s role involves promoting apprenticeships as an excellent career path and enhancing promotional prospects. She recently participated in a meeting at No. 10 with government officials responsible for educational funding to discuss the future of apprenticeships. She commented that apprenticeships are being re-valued by young people and parents who increasingly see them as a route into robust and long-term employment in skilled and technical roles.
- https://www.bedsbulletin.com/bulletin/2023/02/07/no-10-visit-to-start-national-apprenticeships-week/ – The Bedford College Group CEO Ian Pryce CBE and Executive Director Debbie Houghton visited No 10 for a high-level event marking the start of National Apprenticeships Week on February 6, 2023. They were at Downing Street with the education delivery unit to discuss the way ahead as representatives of the largest multi-campus college delivering apprenticeships in the South East Midlands region. The visit showcased The Bedford College Group at the highest level for apprenticeships across the region. The Group is well established as the premier provider of the widest range of apprenticeships across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, working closely with employers large and small, and major local organisations to increase the opportunities for young people.
- https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/bedford-college-chief-visits-downing-street-to-discuss-apprenticeships-4022995 – Bedford College’s CEO Ian Pryce CBE and Executive Director of Apprenticeships, Debbie Houghton, visited Downing Street to discuss apprenticeships. They joined a national conference in the Houses of Parliament on February 6, 2023, as part of National Apprenticeship Week. The visit was part of a series of events, including the college hosting an event for parents to meet employers. The visit highlighted Bedford College’s role as a leading provider of apprenticeships in the region and its commitment to increasing opportunities for young people.
- https://employability.gcs.ac.uk/about/partnerships/ – Gower College Swansea’s ‘Better Jobs, Better Futures’ team collaborates with various employers to provide apprenticeship opportunities. Employers such as Vortex IOT and Arvato Bertelsmann have praised the team’s efforts in understanding business needs and managing recruitment processes. Arvato Bertelsmann, for instance, highlighted apprenticeships as a crucial tool for addressing skills gaps, boosting productivity, and preparing for future talent requirements. The partnership with Better Jobs, Better Futures has been instrumental in recruiting apprentices and supporting their development within the company.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no prior publications found. The London Post published the article on August 1, 2025, and no earlier versions or replications have been identified. The content does not appear to be recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The article includes updated information about Debbie Houghton’s appointment, suggesting a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Debbie Houghton and Angela Joyce are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes have been found in earlier material, indicating originality.
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
The London Post is a local news outlet with limited online presence and credibility. The Bedford College Group’s official website and other reputable sources do not corroborate the appointment of Debbie Houghton as Group Principal at Capital City College. This raises concerns about the reliability of the source.
Plausability check
Score:
3
Notes:
The narrative presents a significant claim about Debbie Houghton’s appointment, but there is no supporting coverage from other reputable outlets. The Bedford College Group’s official website lists Debbie Houghton as Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Business Development, with no mention of her moving to Capital City College. The lack of corroboration and the absence of supporting details from other reputable sources make the claim highly suspicious.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a significant claim about Debbie Houghton’s appointment as Group Principal at Capital City College, but there is no supporting coverage from other reputable outlets. The Bedford College Group’s official website lists Debbie Houghton as Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Business Development, with no mention of her moving to Capital City College. The lack of corroboration and the absence of supporting details from other reputable sources make the claim highly suspicious. Given the unreliability of the source and the lack of supporting evidence, the overall assessment is a ‘FAIL’ with high confidence.
