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South Yorkshire further education providers are joining forces to champion the vital role that skills have in boosting the economy and careers opportunities for learners.

With a combined annual turnover of £230,000,000 and links to 7,500 employers, the region’s seven colleges and university training provider deliver education and skills training to more than 66,000 learners.

The partnership, which aims to transform lives through learning, education and skills, comprises the following organisations:

• Barnsley College
• Communication Specialist College Doncaster
• DN Colleges Group
• Northern College
• RNN Group
• The Chesterfield College Group
• The Sheffield College
• University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre

Yiannis Koursis, Chair of South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership and Principal of Barnsley College, said: “We are delighted to officially launch the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership. Innovation, inclusivity and skills development are central to the success of our partnership and all of our students across South Yorkshire.”

He explained: “Through our collective expertise and ambition, we are committed to collaborating and boosting the skills of the current and future workforce, driving growth and increasing productivity that is vital to our economy and enhancing opportunities for all across our region.”

The partnership launch follows new national developments in education and training. The Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, which recently became law, represents the biggest shake-up to vocational and technical education and training in over a decade.

Putting employers at the heart of the system, so that education and training leads to jobs that improve productivity and fill skills gaps, is a key part of the new legislation which recognises the vital role of colleges in their local communities including supporting adults to retrain.

The Act aims to make it easier for people to get the skills to secure well-paid jobs in industries with skills gaps such as health and social care, engineering, digital, clean energy and manufacturing – which are key sectors in South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership officially launched on July 5th, 2022, at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority on Broad Street West in Sheffield.

For more information, visit www.southyorkshirecollegespartnership.ac.uk.

Photo credit: Abbie Hooper