Ceremony marks progress towards university in Rotherham

Pictured (from left to right) are: Andrew Denniff, Rotherham Together Partnership, Cllr Denise Lelliott, Nigel Brewster, Sheffield City Region, Jana Checkley, UCR Director of Higher Eductaion, Phil Sayles, Deputy Principal of RNN Group and Peter Egan, Lloyds Banking. 180033

A TOPPING-off ceremony marked another major milestone in the construction of the £10.5 million University Centre Rotherham.

Contractors Willmott Dixon are just months from completing the higher education campus at Doncaster Gate, which is on track to open in autumn.

RNN Group chief executive John Connolly said: “It’s fantastic to see our new centre really starting to take shape and beginning to take its place on the Rotherham skyline.

“Over the coming months, people will hear much more about the courses and brilliant facilities, and we’ll be working closely with more employers to get them involved so training meets their needs for highly-skilled staff.”

RNN, which also runs Rotherham College, invited representatives from Rotherham Borough Council and partners for the ceremony, which marked completion of the development’s highest point.

Willmott Dixon operations manager Richard Stowell said: “UCR has made fantastic progress since the start in September 2017.

“In the space of a few months we have completed the groundwork, erected the steel, cast the floors and started the perimeter cladding.”

UCR will have capacity for 1,000 students and offer qualifications through Hull and Sheffield Hallam universities.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said:“The culmination of this project will bring what many businesses in Rotherham have been hoping for a long time, a university campus in our own town and in a central location.

“The number one priority for a majority of businesses is getting staff with the right skillset and developing our own homegrown talent will prove a major step forward.”

Nigel Brewster, vice chairman of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, which granted £3.5 million towards UCR, added: “It will be a major asset to Rotherham and the employers and workforce of the region.

“The centre will help to attract, retain and develop skills in the region which are so important for the city region’s sustainable growth.”

Cllr Denise Lelliott, RMBC Cabinet member for the economy, said: “UCR will be a great asset to the borough.”