News: New Rotherham facilities being developed through RNN Group’s specialist centre for defence
The RNN Group are developing plans to establish a new Defence Technical Excellence College (DTEC) with campuses in line for new specialist facilities.
Rothbiz reported in April on a £175m national investment in skills, the initiative being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education.
RNN Group recently brought together defence employers, education partners and higher education representatives for a collaborative event focused on shaping the future of technical skills for the UK defence sector.
Made up of a number of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham, the group is a national DTEC provider and will act as a regional anchor for defence skills across Yorkshire, Humber and the North East and Yorkshire, working alongside further and higher education partners.
Interest is strong in shared access to specialist facilities, including robotics, drone testing and advanced fabrication environments. This aligns closely with the facilities being developed through RNN Group’s DTEC hubs.
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At University Centre Rotherham, the expanded Regional Defence Hub will bring together technical education, applied innovation and industry recruitment, with facilities focused on digital and cyber skills, autonomous systems and immersive cyber training. The hub will also include an Esports Hub designed to support progression into defence-relevant drone piloting and unmanned systems operations.
At RNN Group’s Rotherham campus, plans for an Advanced Manufacturing Lab will create an Industry 4.0 training environment reflecting a modern defence factory. Facilities will cover automation and mechatronics, CAD/CAM and additive manufacturing, advanced composites and welding, and non-destructive testing and quality assurance. A dedicated Under 25kg Drone Hub will also provide practical experience in flight planning, cargo logistics, aerial surveillance, automated payload delivery and tactical drone operations.
Capital investment is due to start soon before a full DTEC Hub rollout and employer progress review in April 2027.
By 2030, DTEC aims to establish a sustainable hub-and-spoke network supporting defence and dual-use technology skills across South Yorkshire and the wider UK.
The programme aims to support more than 2,500 learners and employees, engage more than 200 employers, create over 500 industry placements, live projects and work-based learning opportunities, and expand higher technical provision from Levels 2-6.
The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, based nearby on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, is among the education partners involved. Its contribution includes specialist engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships, while future areas of focus include increasing degree apprenticeships, developing high-level technical competencies in advanced manufacturing and expanding machine learning programmes at higher levels.
RNN Group website
Images: RNN Group
Rothbiz reported in April on a £175m national investment in skills, the initiative being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education.
RNN Group recently brought together defence employers, education partners and higher education representatives for a collaborative event focused on shaping the future of technical skills for the UK defence sector.
Made up of a number of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham, the group is a national DTEC provider and will act as a regional anchor for defence skills across Yorkshire, Humber and the North East and Yorkshire, working alongside further and higher education partners.
Interest is strong in shared access to specialist facilities, including robotics, drone testing and advanced fabrication environments. This aligns closely with the facilities being developed through RNN Group’s DTEC hubs.
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At University Centre Rotherham, the expanded Regional Defence Hub will bring together technical education, applied innovation and industry recruitment, with facilities focused on digital and cyber skills, autonomous systems and immersive cyber training. The hub will also include an Esports Hub designed to support progression into defence-relevant drone piloting and unmanned systems operations.
At RNN Group’s Rotherham campus, plans for an Advanced Manufacturing Lab will create an Industry 4.0 training environment reflecting a modern defence factory. Facilities will cover automation and mechatronics, CAD/CAM and additive manufacturing, advanced composites and welding, and non-destructive testing and quality assurance. A dedicated Under 25kg Drone Hub will also provide practical experience in flight planning, cargo logistics, aerial surveillance, automated payload delivery and tactical drone operations.
Capital investment is due to start soon before a full DTEC Hub rollout and employer progress review in April 2027.
By 2030, DTEC aims to establish a sustainable hub-and-spoke network supporting defence and dual-use technology skills across South Yorkshire and the wider UK.
The programme aims to support more than 2,500 learners and employees, engage more than 200 employers, create over 500 industry placements, live projects and work-based learning opportunities, and expand higher technical provision from Levels 2-6.
The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, based nearby on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, is among the education partners involved. Its contribution includes specialist engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships, while future areas of focus include increasing degree apprenticeships, developing high-level technical competencies in advanced manufacturing and expanding machine learning programmes at higher levels.
RNN Group website
Images: RNN Group
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