£3.5 million for Rotherham university campus

A BUSY week for Rotherham College saw it merge with Dearne Valley College and receive £3.5 million for a planned university campus.
A launch ceremony was recently held at Dearne Valley College to celebrate the College's merger with the RNN Group (Rotherham and North Notts) and new signage. Staff, students and invited guests are seen at the launch. 170158-1A launch ceremony was recently held at Dearne Valley College to celebrate the College's merger with the RNN Group (Rotherham and North Notts) and new signage. Staff, students and invited guests are seen at the launch. 170158-1
A launch ceremony was recently held at Dearne Valley College to celebrate the College's merger with the RNN Group (Rotherham and North Notts) and new signage. Staff, students and invited guests are seen at the launch. 170158-1

Sheffield City Region approved the funding for the higher education campus at the former Doncaster Gate Hospital site on Monday.

A planning application is expected to follow later this month and work could begin on the £12 million venture this summer.

Deputy principal Phil Sayles said: “Most of all, this is about helping people to fulfil their potential. We think it’s a really big deal for Rotherham.

“The site has been central to the life of Rotherham and it’s great that it’s being proposed to be services orientated in the future, just education rather than health.

“One of the key things that the campus will do is work with employers in the town. We have consulted with more than 200 employers as part of the funding bid.”

RNN Group, which runs Rotherham College, took over Dearne Valley College on Wednesday with a formal event at the Manvers campus.

Chief executive John Connolly said: “The merger marks a significant milestone for the organisation, increasing our education offer for school leavers, undergraduates, adults, and employers, and bringing with it many new and exciting opportunities.

Students will benefit from a wider curriculum and improved facilities to support their learning, whilst employers will have access to a comprehensive range of training and apprenticeship provision to upskill and grow their workforce.”

The RNN Group, which has a projected turnover of more than £50 million, also includes North Notts College in Worksop, apprenticeship business RNN Training and a number of subsidiary companies. Dearne Valley College will retain its identity.