A new IT Service specializing in networking and desktop training and consultancy for South Yorkshire businesses has been launched. Branded ‘Rotherham Vision’, the service offers networking support for businesses that could not afford to invest in their own IT technician but need to gain the benefits of an IT network for business growth. Heavily discounted industry training is also available for IT professionals.

Backed by a partnership of Rotherham Colleges , Sheffield Hallam University , and leading telecommunications training company CTTS, Rotherham Vision provides a one stop shop for networking and wireless services for small and medium sized businesses in particular. It will also provide much needed industry training for professionals working in business and public sector organizations in the area.

Training courses on offer include Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Wireless, introductory wireless training, Linux LP1 101 and Microsoft Certified Desktop Technician. Consultancy services cover all aspects of networking, from design, through installation to support and management, as well as supporting change management and project management.

Most of the Rotherham Vision training courses are being delivered at the Centre of Excellence for New Technologies at Magna Science Adventure Centre (CENT@Magna), where a new high tech lab facility for network training was launched in April.

Rotherham Vision is part of the £7.5m EU and Yorkshire Forward funded e-South Yorkshire Skills Programme, branded ‘e-SY Skills’, designed to boost industry training for professionals working in the creative and digital industries in South Yorkshire . The Programme, managed by the Learning and Skills Council, has funded new equipment, engagement of industry professionals for management and training, trainer training and development of new courses.

Already the Programme has opened up new opportunities in the Rotherham area. Students from local secondary schools have been able to benefit from the kind of industry training only available previously to those at degree level or working in industry. A Fibre Optics course provided by leading telecommunications training company CTTS was followed with Wireless Networking courses led by Sheffield Hallam University. Local businesses have also been benefiting from Cisco Wireless and Networking training.

For more information on these offerings, contact Tony Dodd on adodd@rotherham.ac.uk

Staff and pupils from across Rotherham were brought together to celebrate the town's educational successes in a specially organised 14 - 19 Education Week launched on 9 th February at Magna Science and Adventure Centre.

Rotherham has responded pro-actively to the Government's initiative to boost interest and enthusiasm for education and training in that age group.

A variety of innovative schemes, including workplace learning, flexible timetabling and college taster sessions, have already been successfully introduced.

The event was organised by Rotherham Partnership, along with Rotherham Borough Council and the Learning and Skills Council.

Rotherham Council's Director of Education and chair of Rotherham Partnership's Learning Spoke, Di Billups, said: "This is partnership working at its best. It shows what can be achieved when everyone works together.

"We are very proud of what is happening educationally across our town and are working towards a flexible curriculum that will allow post 14 students to take subjects at different centres to better suit their needs.

"Places like CENT have been opened on the Magna site which engages young people in specific projects such as the current Fibre Optics course that is being run."

The Education Celebration Week was launched on 9th February at Magna, Science and Adventure Centre with a programme of workshops, educational activities and events including a visit from Tidy Music.

A twilight conference took place with keynote speakers including Ken Spours from the Institute of Education in London .

It was the start of a week full of celebration with events happening at schools and colleges across Rotherham every day. Other events included:

* 9th February Wickersley Comprehensive pupils attended an art and design workshop with invited artists.

* 10th February RCAT hosted a Construction Workshop. Thomas Rotherham College (TRC) held a session on creating a Student Crew with a tour of the Music Factory.

* 11th February RCAT hosted an Engineering Workshop and TRC hosted a session on Caring, Leisure and Environmental courses.

* 12th February Dearne Valley College hosted a taster session for their Travel and Tourism courses and Clifton Comprehensive School held a 14 - 19 evening.

• The Rotherham Centre of Excellence for New Technologies (CENT), based at Magna, is specialising in fixed and wireless networks, mobile and broadband technologies and digital media management;
• The Barnsley Centre for Digital Specialism will focus on e-commerce, e-marketing, web services and media technologies;
• The Doncaster Digital Knowledge Exchange will specialise in creative digital media, including technical skills for games, music, animation, film and virtual reality production;
• Interface, the Sheffield College initiative, will focus on creative and digital skills in television, photography, journalism and e-learning.