RNN Group Joins the Launch of South Yorkshire Colleges Group
RNN Group alongside seven Further and Higher Education providers across South Yorkshire joined together this week in the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Office to launch the South Yorkshire Colleges Group, and a new website for the Group.
The partnership aims to champion working together to share knowledge supporting our further education offering across the region as well as the vital skills needed to boost the local economy and career opportunities for learners.
With a combined annual turnover of £230,000,000 and links to 7,500 employers, the region’s seven Colleges and University training providers deliver education and skills training to more than 66,000 learners.
The partnership includes the following organisations:
- Barnsley College
- Communication Specialist College Doncaster
- DN Colleges Group
- Northern College
- RNN Group
- The Chesterfield College Group
- The Sheffield College
- University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre
Jason Austin, CEO and Principal of RNN Group, said: “The South Yorkshire Colleges Group (SYCG) is an initiative which aims for Group members to work together in partnership to better serve and support our communities, especially our learners and employers, and play an important role in achieving our region’s inclusive growth aspirations.
“By collaborating with other forward-thinking South Yorkshire Further and Higher education providers, we aim to ensure that innovation and education are central to our work, ensuring an exceptional learning experience across the region through shared knowledge and support, with the sole of aim of helping students achieve their personal and professional ambitions.”
Yiannis Koursis, Chair of South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership and Principal of Barnsley College, said: “We are delighted to officially launch the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership website. Innovation, inclusivity and skills development are central to the success of our partnership and all of our learners across South Yorkshire.”
He explained: “Through our collective expertise and ambition, we are committed to collaborating and boosting the skills of the current and future workforce, driving growth and increasing productivity that is vital to our economy and enhancing opportunities for all across our region.”
The partnership launch follows new national developments in education and training. The Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, which recently became law, represents the biggest shake-up to vocational and technical education and training in over a decade.
Putting employers at the heart of the system, so that education and training lead to jobs that improve productivity and fill skills gaps, is a key part of the new legislation which recognises the vital role of colleges in their local communities including supporting adults to retrain.
The Act aims to make it easier for people to get the skills to secure well-paid jobs in industries with skills gaps such as health and social care, engineering, digital, clean energy, and manufacturing – which are key sectors in South Yorkshire.