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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.

News Item 2 - Launch of High-Tech Network Training Facilities at CENT@Magna

New Boost for Jobs in South Yorkshire 's Technology Industries - April 22, 2004, the Centre of Excellence for New Technologies (CENT), located at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, celebrated the launch of new network training facilities for the world's largest Information and Communications (ICT) networking company, Cisco. The new facilities are part of a £7.5m investment in skills and jobs by the EU Objective 1 and Yorkshire Forward funded ‘e-SY Skills' programme managed by the Learning and Skills Council South Yorkshire and targeting South Yorkshire 's ICT-based industries.

The CENT@Magna facilities are already helping new recruits to the industry train as network technicians and gain prized Cisco qualifications. These are needed to fill vital jobs in business and public sector services that increasingly rely on technology.

The launch at CENT@Magna on April 22 at 12.00 pm showcased the Cisco wireless and network training courses run in partnership with Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) and Sheffield Hallam University IT Foundry and gave an opportunity to meet students on the new JIGSAW IT Technician work placement and training scheme, which is being sponsored by the e-SY skills programme.

A new website, www.centatmagna.org.uk, was launched at the event, offering ready access to information on the extensive facilities and training courses on offer through CENT@Magna.

Richard Smith, Director of Cluster Development at the Learning and Skills Council South Yorkshire, and Christine Melia, Executive Director of Magna and Chair of the CENT Board, officially opened the facility, together with Judith Robinson, Development Manager, People, Communities and Skills, Objective 1 South Yorkshire and Paul Pascoe, Yorkshire Forward's Head of Learning and Skills South Yorkshire.

Richard Smith, Director of Cluster Development at the Learning and Skills Council South Yorkshire, commented, “CENT@Magna is a flagship initiative in our programme to develop a regional skills base in creative and digital industries which will be second to none. Availability of network training is vital to ensure that South Yorkshire businesses and public sector services have a ready supply of qualified IT technicians.”

Paul Pascoe, Yorkshire Forward's Head of Learning and Skills South Yorkshire said, “The e-SY skills initiative represents a major part of Yorkshire Forward's investment in capacity building of the education and training infrastructure in South Yorkshire to meet the needs of our ICT-based businesses and services. It is good to see this new capability already helping previously unemployed recruits to the industry to gain the qualifications they need for skilled jobs as IT technicians.”

Judith Robinson, Development Manager, People, Communities and Skills, Objective 1 said, “Objective 1's aim is to transform South Yorkshire into a high growth, knowledge-rich economy. The new network training facilities at CENT@Magna will help to ensure that local people have the skills needed to grasp new employment opportunities being created through the increased use of technology across all areas of life.”

CENT@Magna is managed by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council working closely with Rotherham Learning Partnership and is serving young people in school and college, as well as job seekers and those already working in the IT and creative industries. Employers can benefit from training needs analysis as part of the service and find out about the latest offers on low cost technical training as well as 50% subsidy for potential new recruits through the JIGSAW work placement scheme. Offerings include Cisco network and wireless training, Microsoft Office Specialist and European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) courses. The Centre's high-tech training facilities are also available for hire complete with technical support service.