New college will open up career pathways in national defence technology
A new college where students will learn vital technical skills to strengthen defence in the UK is to be developed by RNN Group, who run North Notts. College in Worksop.
RNN Group, an education provider that also runs colleges in Rotherham and the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, has secured a major
national defence technology bid, in partnership with the UK Government, to establish a new Defence Technical Excellence College
(DTEC).
The initiative is being delivered together with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education.
A spokesperson for RNN said: “We will be working closely with employers and partners across both regions and supporting and developing learners skills in the key areas outlined in the initiative across our current college campuses though this project, as we do with a number of courses, projects and learning activities.
"There will be a hub and spoke model that will be developed with our partners.”
She added: "This landmark achievement positions RNN Group at the forefront of strengthening the UK’s defence skills pipeline, supporting the development of advanced technical capabilities that are critical to national security and economic resilience.”
High-quality education and training in key areas at the DTEC will include digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing, to directly support the evolving needs of the UK defence sector and its supply chains.
This will align with the ambitions of the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy.
The new initiative will create clear pathways into defence careers, strengthen regional and national skills capacity, support innovation in defence-related technologies, and bring education providers, industry, and government together.
Located within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and East Midlands Combined County Authority regions, the DTEC will build on the area’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, that is recognised as a critical enabler of the UK defence sector.
By working closely with employers and partners, RNN Group will help develop a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the long-term needs of defence industries across the UK.
Jason Austin, CEO and Principal, RNN Group, said: “This is a significant moment for RNN Group and for the regions we serve; securing this bid demonstrates our commitment to supporting the UK’s defence Industrial Strategy through the provision of high-quality technical education.
“We are proud to work alongside the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education to deliver a step change in how defence skills are developed.
“By collaborating closely with SYMCA and EMCCA and our local educational partners and institutions, we are ensuring the development of high-level skills in this area.”
The successful bid reflects the RNN Group’s strong track record in employer engagement and its growing role in higher technical education and training.
It builds on RNN Group’s work regionally with universities, industry leaders, and government partners, working at the cutting edge of defence education and innovation.
The concept of Technical Excellence Colleges is linked to the Industrial Strategy which was launched in 2025, and this is a government proposal the Group responded to this year.
For more information on RNN Group, visit: https://www.rnngroup.co.uk/