College campus commercial outlets: What can the public access at RNN Group?
RNN Group of Colleges is more than just your textbook education provider.
As well as being a place where students learn, our College campuses are also home to some brilliant commercial outlets that are open to the public.
Whether you’re looking for a new gym for your daily workouts, want to get your hair or nails done, treat your loved ones to a slap up meal, or are in need of an office, we’ve got the facilities for you.
At RNN Group, we’re continually investing in our facilities to support businesses and individuals in the South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire regions. This has helped bolster our place in the communities we serve, making our services more diverse and accessible beyond our core education provision.
We’re proud to now have three hair and beauty salons, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a fine dining restaurant, and a contemporary art studio and theatre that are well-loved by members of the public.
Many of the services we offer to the public, such as hair and beauty treatments and restaurant dining, are provided by our learners here at RNN Group. Our vocational courses have a big focus on customer service skills, as well as the technical skills needed, to get our students ready for the world of work.
By welcoming paying customers, it gives students the opportunity to put their theory work into practice. So your support is more than just money in the till; it’s invaluable to their studies and career prospects.
So, what commercial outlets do we have at RNN Group?
Hair and beauty salons
Did you know you could save yourself a pretty penny by booking your next hair or beauty treatment at a College salon? Here at RNN Group, we have three hair and beauty academies that offer all your favourite treatments at feel good prices.
The salons are based at Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College and are all equipped to a high standard with products from well-known brands such as Dermalogica, Fudge and Wella.
In term time, the treatments are all done by our hair and beauty learners. These talented stylists and therapists bring some of the freshest, most creative ideas and are training in the latest techniques.
During the summer months, when our students aren’t at college, our flagship salon at Rotherham College remains open where our experienced team of course tutors will be working on paying clients.
As well as all your favourite hair and beauty treatments like nail extensions, waxing, facials or a cut and colour, we also have a range of advanced beauty treatments. These are done by our level 4 learners who are training in areas like IPL skin rejuvenation and hair removal, electrolysis, and microblading.
Prices will vary across the salons and will also be dependent on the level a student is working at (e.g. level 2 or 3), or whether it is staff doing the treatment during summer break.
But you can expect to pay as little as £6 for a Dermalogica facial, £10 for a lash lift or full set of nail extensions, or £12 for a non-surgical face lift. For hairdressing services, prices start from £3 for a ladies’ dry cut, £3.50 for a gent’s cut, and £10 for colour services.
See our current price lists and opening times for all three salons here.
Office space
In 2023, we opened two brand new office spaces to add yet another dimension to our offer here at RNN Group.
Both sites were set up to support the growing trend of working remotely alongside the reduction in need for large office space and expensive long term lets.
Business Centre Rotherham (BCR) opened at our Higher Education facility, University Centre Rotherham, to provide a dedicated business hub in the heart of Rotherham town centre. It has two office pods, group working space and conference facilities that can be hired on an ad-hoc basis. It’s a great option if you need somewhere to meet clients, interview candidates, or are a freelancer or self-employed needing somewhere to concentrate away from home.
BCR has kitchen and toilet facilities, fast-speed WIFI, and catering options to suit your meeting requirements. Our fees are competitively priced at £30 for an hour, £75 for half a day, and £125 for the full day.
Need something more long term? 7 Enterprise Way at Dearne Valley College could be your next business base. There are four larges offices which have been renovated to a high spec, with fast speed WIFI and good technology including video intercom access. There is also kitchen, toilet and breakout facilities, plus access to our on-site maintenance and IT teams should you need them.
The business suite has its own separate entrance away from the campus’ main reception and each office has two parking spaces.
Contact us for more pricing information or see more here.
The Wharncliffe, fine dining restaurant at Rotherham College
A sophisticated restaurant offering a quality dining experience, you could be in any top restaurant around the country and experience always exceeds expectations.
At The Wharncliffe, everything is prepared, cooked and served by our catering and hospitality students studying at Rotherham College. They are supported by a team of tutors who have all cut their teeth at some fine establishments before moving into teaching.
The Wharncliffe has a lunch and dinner service where three course meals are priced at £14.50 for lunch and £20.50 for dinner. This incredible value offer includes a la carte dishes like wild mushroom and gorgonzola arancini, braised lamb shoulder, and rabbit and ham hock terrine.
Every aspect of the dishes are made fresh – from the breads to the pastas and the desserts. Our students work exceptionally hard to finesse their cookery skills and presentation to ensure diners are blown away by what they’re eating.
Sadly, The Wharncliffe is currently closed during the summer break. But you won’t have long to wait until it reopens for the 2024/25 academic year in the autumn.
The popular monthly events will also return shortly, along with early bookings for our Christmas dining offer.
If you have any big celebrations or business events coming up, why not consider hiring out The Wharncliffe? The restaurant has a bar with extensive wine menu plus barista hot beverages. It’s conveniently located in Rotherham town centre near to Rotherham Theatres, making it the perfect place for pre-theatre dining.
Get a taste of what’s to come in 2024 by checking out our sample menus here.
DVC Sport, gym and sports centre at Dearne Valley College
Our Manvers-based fitness centre has a state-of-the-art gym and a multi-use sports centre that are both open seven days a week. Members love that it’s clean, bright, and not intimidating like other big commercial gyms.
Joining is really easy. There are no 12-month contracts and membership prices start from £17.99 a month, or just £12 for RNN Group students.
When you join, you get access to the fully air-conditioned Fitness63 gym which has 70 stations of cardio, strength training, and stretching equipment.
If you sign up to the combined gym and classes membership, which is £20.99 a month, you’ll also be able to book onto any of the 25 fitness classes on throughout the week. There are classes for circuit training, HiiT workouts, yoga and Pilates, and Xpress spin sessions. Or why not try the class roulette session where the instructor spins the wheel to choose a different exercise class each week. See our current class timetable here.
If team sports are more your game, then we’ve got the facilities to get the ball rolling. The sports centre at DVC Sports has indoor and outdoor pitches for football, netball, basketball, badminton and tennis. Our new outdoor football pitch is the GOAT, with FIFA 2* quality 3G turf.
The Studio, art studio and theatre at Rotherham College
If you’re over a certain age, you might remember that Rotherham College used to be called RCAT – the A and T standing for art and technology.
Art still plays a big role in college life here in Rotherham, with a range of art and design courses that are always popular with students.
To enhance their time at College, we decided to open up the art studio to visitors at various times throughout the academic year. Students from our art, fashion, graphic design and photography courses now organise exhibitions and gallery showings and can choose to sell their work if interested.
The Studio’s theatre space is also used by our music and performing arts students who host regular performances, as well as the annual musical in May.
Find out more about The Studio here.
