John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, has today welcomed the news that Dearne Valley College and Rotherham College, part of RNN Group is to be awarded Technical Excellence College status for its work in defence.
Learners in Rotherham will now have access to training for high-demand jobs in Britain’s fastest growing industries, as the Labour rolls out the next wave of TECs.
RNN Group is one of 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges across the country being backed by £175 million of government funding to deliver high-quality training in the sectors driving Britain’s growth – advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence, as well as digital and technologies.
The college’s status as a new Technical Excellence Colleges will equip young people across Rotherham with the high-level technical skills needed to access well-paid, high-skilled jobs, giving them a clear route from education into work.
It’s estimated that almost 600,000 additional workers will be needed by 2030 in these key sectors, underlining the scale of demand for skills and further training in these critical industries.
The £175 million investment will support the highest-quality teaching, improved courses and access to specialist equipment, in colleges selected for Technical Excellence College status.
The newly awarded college is strategically located to align with local industry demand, helping drive growth in South Yorkshire and train a skilled workforce where it is needed most.
The TECs will break down barriers to opportunity and deliver the gold standard pathways young people deserve, helping the government to reach the Prime Minister’s target for two thirds of young people to be training as an apprentice or getting a degree by age 25.
This investment is part of Labour’s commitment to ensuring high-quality technical routes which are valued just as highly as university, supporting homegrown talent across the country to develop the skills employers need.
John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said:
“We know that young people across Rawmarsh and Conisbrough have the talent and drive to do really important work in crucial industries like defence. Now they have a Labour government on their side, backing them.
“With vital investment, cutting-edge equipment and high-quality teaching, Dearne Valley College and Rotherham College can go on to build the workforce of the industries of the future – right here in Rotherham.
“Well done to the team at RNN Group, who deserve this well-earned recognition, and I can’t wait to see them go from strength to strength as a Technical Excellence College.”