Employers join forces with Rotherham College at Academies launch
Employers today joined forces with Rotherham College to launch a new set of Academies designed to help train the workforce of the future.
More than 20 local firms attended the launch of the RNN Group’s new Employer Academies this morning at its town centre Higher Education facility, University Centre Rotherham (UCR).
The Group, which includes Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, UCR and RNN Training, is setting up ten Employer Academies to help innovate and drive forwards employer-led learning opportunities for students.
There will be an RNN Employer Academy for each of the following industry sectors: animal management; automotive; childcare and education; construction; creative; digital; engineering; health; sport and public services; and service industries (business, hair and beauty, hospitality, retail, travel and tourism).
RNN Employer Academy sponsors will work with college managers, curriculum staff and students on the planning and design of course content to ensure that the college offer meets local economic growth plans, address skills shortages and enable students to enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by leading employers.
RNN Employer Academies will also see supporting employers offer work placements, workplace visits, masterclasses and exclusive interview and recruitment opportunities for students.
For local businesses sponsoring an Academy, benefits will include designing local courses to meet their skills and recruitment needs, working directly with their potential future workforce to upskill and develop students in line with organisational values and practices, increasing their own talent pipeline, and developing internal employee mentoring skills through a bespoke training programme.
Employers from across the region pledged their support including AESSEAL; APB Joinery; Bassetlaw Council; Europa Engineering; Five Oceans Spaces, J Tomlinson; O&A Construction; Nexus; Pattison Engineering; RIDO; Rotherham MBC; Scarbrooks; Souths Electrical; Terberg; Ye Olde Bell and Yorkshire Shopfitters.
Tracey Mace-Ackroyd, Deputy CEO/Principal of the RNN Group, welcomed the new partnership and presented the benefits of RNN Group Employer Academies to the visiting businesses.
Tracey said: “It is fantastic to see so many local businesses here today to support the launch of our new RNN Employer Academy programme.
“It really is a fitting start to Love Our Colleges Week – a nationwide celebration of colleges which transform millions of lives across the UK each year. Employers have a valuable role in supporting students to achieve their aspirational work and long term career goals. The new Academies will support students to overcome barriers to learning and work. This is an exciting venture and we look forward to sharing many success stories over the months ahead.”
Jackie Freeborn of Rotherham Ambitions was one of the visitors attending the launch event.
Jackie said: “I’ve found it very interesting; there’s a wide range of employers here. This is all about setting learners up properly for the world of work.
“To be honest, there is sometimes a gap between expectations at work and what is taught. Today is about building a bridge over this and making the world of work relevant to current learners.”