Collaboration is key for South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership
As an education provider, we’re not here to just teach, we’re here to build a better society.
That’s why we’ve been proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership for the last two-and-a-half years.
This dynamic group of eight colleges from across the Sheffield City Region is working together to transform the educational and economic outlook of our region.
Our work goes beyond people gaining qualifications. By offering diverse and accessible education pathways, we’re aiming to increase aspirations and social mobility within our communities and boost the skills needed for economic growth.
What is the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership?
The South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership was established in summer 2022 to bring together eight further education providers in the SCR.
As well as us here at RNN Group, the other seven include:
- Barnsley College
- Chesterfield College Group
- Communication Specialist College Doncaster
- DN Colleges Group
- Northern College
- The Sheffield College
- University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre
Together we have over 66,000 students, partnerships with 7,500 employers, and a combined annual turnover of £230 million.
RNN Group’s CEO and principal, Jason Austin, is currently chairperson of the partnership.
Why are colleges working together?
You might think colleges within the same region would be in competition with each other, all vying for the same cohort of students.
And in the past we have been. But in recent years, the education sector has set rivalries aside and taken a more collaborative approach for a number of reasons.
Know the saying two heads are better than one? For the ongoing benefit of the wider community, colleges need to put their heads together and act as one voice.
Only half (51%) of working age residents in South Yorkshire are qualified to level 3 or above. By 2030, nine in ten people will need to upskill to keep up with advancements in technology and changes in the economy. We have a shared responsibility to respond to those challenges and deliver lifelong learning.
The issues we are trying to address in our sector can be complex but having a collective roundtable of invested people helps us brainstorm innovative ideas, extend different perspectives and implement meaningful routes for change.
Working alongside each other also means colleges are more likely to see balanced investment instead of competing for government funding. This in turn means there’s more consistency across the region, both for learners and employers.
Students have access to industry-standard facilities, skilled tutors and high quality teaching at whichever college they choose. While employers benefit from our shared goal to reduce the skills gaps seen in certain industries in the Sheffield City Region. They work with us to create courses that are effectively building the competent and productive workforce of the future.
But the bottom line is that colleges will always sit at the heart of local communities. We all share a common purpose: to ensure that all people, no matter their age, background or experience, can access a valuable education that will enhance their career opportunities.
What is the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership doing?
Since launching in 2022, the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership has been involved in various capital projects such as the formation of a regional Institute of Technology and an apprenticeship hub.
These have been driven by the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 which was the biggest shakeup in vocational education in over a decade. The Act puts employers central to the further education system so that college training leads to jobs that will improve productivity and fill skills gaps in industries like health, engineering, digital, clean energy and manufacturing.
South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT)
Backed by over £21 million in funding from the Department for Education, we launched the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology in September 2023.
It’s one of 21 IoTs nationally, all of which specialise in delivering higher technical education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) occupations.
The SYIoT offers courses ranging from level 3 T Levels up to level 6 degrees. But our core focus is on level 4 and 5 qualifications such as Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and higher apprenticeships.
SYIoT is home to students of all ages and backgrounds, providing real-world experiences that make them stand out in the job market.
One of the unique advantages of studying at SYIoT is that students get to work closely with our employer partners such as AESSEAL® PLC, HLM Architects, and Pendo.
Learners also get hands-on experience with the latest technology in state-of-the-art facilities at the individual colleges and universities involved in SYIoT. But we are also excited for the launch of the region’s dedicated IoT hub in Barnsley which is set to open soon after a £15million building project.
South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub
The South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub opened in December 2023 a one-stop-shop for businesses, apprentices and those looking to learn more about apprenticeships.
The initiative is funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership. It’s based at SYMCA’s office in Sheffield.
The hub offers consultations for SMEs to pinpoint skills that would benefit their business, which of the 660 apprenticeship standards would suit them, and which training provider is best placed to support them. The hub’s team can also support with funding advice, vacancy promotion, and onboarding new apprentices.
Their advisors also work with schools, parents and students to raise awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships including the routes of progression.
The project also includes a new apprenticeship levy matchmaking service where large businesses can transfer any unused apprenticeship levy to SMEs in the region. It’s already completed over 150 levy transfers thanks to £2.64 million pledged by companies like Google, Aviva, Sheffield City Council and the BBC.
HTQ partnership with Sheffield Hallam University
In January 2024, Sheffield Hallam University signed an agreement to be the preferred awarding body for Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) that are delivered by colleges within the SYCP.
This was aided by £1.3m funding from the government’s Higher Technical Education Skills Injection Fund.
HTQs are employer-led qualifications at level 4 and 5 which provide learners with the work-ready skills demanded by industry.
By working together on HTQ provision, we’re ensuring consistency across the region, with clearer pathways for learners without any duplicated courses at multiple colleges.
It will also pool efforts to maximise the potential of HTQs in the region, raise their profile across local communities, and ensure economies of scale for future funding bids.