Skills boost for the region as college digital hub opened

Lord Blunkett has officially opened a £422,000 digital hub at the North’s only adult residential college.

The investment has modernised the library at Northern College, which is based within the Grade 1 listed Wentworth Castle, Barnsley.

The upgrade has been funded by the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund. Next year, as part of the project, the college will also unveil an immersive digital classroom.

Emma Beal, Principal and chief executive, Northern College, said: “We have a strong track record of raising aspirations and providing life changing education opportunities for adults. 

“We are pleased to officially open our digital hub as part of a longer-term project. A key aim is to ensure under-represented groups who are often digitally excluded have access to high quality digital resources and support.

“Providing the latest digital training will equip our students with vital skills for new careers and that employers in our region need.”

The library facilities and resources will give students, such as those studying residentially, access to digital study spaces including during the evenings and weekends.

Northern College provides short courses as well as academic and vocational qualifications to adults mainly from South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

During the official opening, dignitaries including Lord Blunkett and Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor, met with staff and students and toured the college’s facilities.

Lord Blunkett, a former Secretary of State for Education and Employment, and now member of the House of Lords, said: “Lifelong learning is not just vital for the wellbeing of individuals seeking to adapt to an ever-changing world, but fundamental to the Government’s agenda, emphasised earlier this week, of enabling people to return to work after redundancy or periods of ill health. 

“Modern transformational learning resources play a critical part in enabling students to connect with the technology of the future and to access sources of learning in a way which was inconceivable even a decade ago.

“Access to these facilities and educational opportunity for those most disadvantaged or previously excluded from opportunity is an essential tenet of the work of the Northern College, and this investment will facilitate achieving the outcomes desired by everyone involved.” 

Carrie Sudbury, chief executive, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, added: “The new digital hub at Northern College is a fantastic step forward for our region, giving adults the chance to develop essential digital skills that are so important in today’s world.

“It’s great to see this investment helping to modernise facilities and meet the growing demand for tech expertise in South Yorkshire.

“Northern College does incredible work supporting adults, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to gain the skills and confidence they need to change their lives.

“This new hub is another brilliant example of how they’re helping to drive opportunity and growth in our community.”