News: Rotherham United sign with LifeSkills

Rotherham United has announced a new education partnership with LifeSkills, a national company that specialises in providing opportunities for young people to break into the world of training and employment.

Rotherham born managing director, Spencer Fearn, has developed the company over the last eight years in London and the South East and LifeSkills are recognised as one of the leading Learning Providers in the UK.

The opportunity arose recently to set up a training centre in his home town and he jumped at the chance. LifeSkills have taken space in Enterprise House in the town centre.

Steve Coakley, commercial director at Rotherham United said: "We have been in dialogue for quite some time about working together and launching a partnership. We genuinely feel that by doing so we can help deliver the chance for people to improve their skill sets and subsequent opportunities to realise, or even improve, their potential."

Paul Douglas, the club's chief operating officer added: "At a time of rising local unemployment LifeSkills are providing a much needed opportunity for young people to get on the employment ladder through effective training.

"Their methods are tried and tested and we will be working closely with them and local employers to ensure as many youngsters as possible have access to this opportunity.

"This area has had more of its fair share of unemployment and the social problems that come with it and we were very keen to form this official partnership with LifeSkills to help raise the opportunities available to people of Rotherham."

Over the coming weeks and months there will be regular updates through the club's media channels about the new partnership's joint initiatives with information for both local businesses and local youngsters about how to get involved.

Spencer Fearn, Managing Director of LifeSkills said: "We are delighted to be recognised as an official education partner of Rotherham United and look forward to building a strong partnership that will provide some excellent opportunities for the young people of Rotherham."

Spencer is no stranger to football, having been vice-chairman of East Stirlingshire in Scotland and the man reported to be leading a consortium to buy the Millers' rivals, Sheffield Wednesday.

In June, LifeSkills agreed a one year deak to sponsor the sleeve of the shirt of the town's rugby team, the Rotherham Titans.

Rotherham United website
LifeSkills website
The Star article

Images: themillers.co.uk