RNN Group

What RNN Group does

RNN Group is a private, for-profit further and higher education provider headquartered in Rotherham, United Kingdom, formed in 2016 through the merger of local colleges. The group operates four core campuses — Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, and University Centre Rotherham — alongside specialist training facilities including the National Fluid Power Centre, Logistics Training Centre, The Bridge Skills Hub, and the AM2 Electro Testing Centre and Gas Works. It serves approximately 11,000 learners annually (including 1,000 apprentices) across school leavers, adult learners, and employer-sponsored cohorts, with qualifications ranging from Entry Level to Level 6 degrees. The core technology stack is built around a digital education platform integrated with Google Workspace for Education (Google Reference College designation), supplemented by accessibility tooling (Recite Me, Aira) and video conferencing for remote learning. Commercial outlets — The Wharncliffe restaurant, DVC Sports (Fitness63) gym, and the Innovate hair and beauty salons — double as both revenue-generating businesses and student training environments. The business model combines recurrent government funding (Education and Skills Funding Agency, apprenticeship levy, European Social Fund) with employer-sponsored apprenticeship fees, tuition income, and transaction-based commercial services. RNN Group holds Ofsted Good, TEF Silver, QAA, Matrix, and Investors in Diversity Silver accreditations, and operates a structured Employer Academy model with named enterprise partners across construction, aesthetics, health and wellbeing, and local government.

Name

RNN Group

Legal name

RNN Group

Website

https://rnngroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

RNN Group is a UK further and higher education provider operating four colleges and specialist training centres across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, serving 11,000 learners annually via vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and degrees funded primarily through government grants and employer partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)

Keywords

• Vocational education services
• Further higher education
• Apprenticeship training programs
• Technical skills training
• Employer academies

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotherham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Education and Training Services: Further and higher education provision including vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships, and higher education degrees. Revenue generated through government funding (Education and Skills Funding Agency) and tuition fees.
2. Apprenticeship Scheme: Apprenticeship programs for employers, funded through apprenticeship Levy and government contributions
3. Commercial Services: Revenue-generating commercial outlets including The Wharncliffe restaurant, DVC Sports gym (Fitness63), hair and beauty salons (Innovate S65, Innovate S81), and studio spaces. These operate as both commercial enterprises and student training facilities.
4. Adult Learning and Skills Training: Adult skills courses, community courses, and distance learning programs, partially funded through government initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RNN Group operates a network of colleges and training centres delivering further and higher education, vocational qualifications, T Levels, apprenticeships, adult skills courses, and higher education degrees across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. The group also operates commercial training outlets including a fine dining restaurant, fitness gym, and hair and beauty salons that double as student training facilities. Employer-facing services include Employer Academies, bespoke commercial training, and skills bootcamps.

Product overview

RNN Group is a career-focused further and higher education provider operating as a unified college group across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. The portfolio includes four main college campuses (Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, and University Centre Rotherham), specialized training centres (The Bridge Skills Hub, National Fluid Power Centre, Logistics Training Centre, AM2 Electro Testing Centre), and commercial training restaurants and salons. Education services span apprenticeships, T Levels, adult skills courses, and higher education degrees. Employer-facing services include Employer Academies, commercial training courses, skills bootcamps, and work placement support. Commercial operations include The Wharncliffe fine dining restaurant, DVC Sports fitness facility, and Innovate hair and beauty salons across multiple campuses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT): Institute of Technology focused on STEM skills and technical education
• World Skills Centre of Excellence
• Google Reference College

Products and services

• Rotherham College

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A-TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026New Employer Academy launched with A-Training to support aesthetics careers, providing training pathways for the aesthetics industry
• Bassetlaw District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2025Employer Academy launch with BDC to support local workforce development and skills training
• Henry Boot ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Employer Academies partnership for construction industry training and workforce development
• Esh GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025Construction programme partnership through Employer Academies initiative
• Lync ActiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Health and Wellbeing Programme partnership providing health and wellbeing resources for students and staff
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Reference College partnership providing digital education tools, Google Workspace for Education, and digital skills training for students and staff
• National Fluid Power CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist partner organisation providing fluid power industry training and expertise
• South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for higher technical education and technical skills training in South Yorkshire
• Education and Skills Funding AgencycoreOthersGovernment body providing funding for further education and skills training
• European Social FundcoreOthersEU funding programme supporting skills and employment training initiatives
• WorldSkills UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldSkills Centre of Excellence partnership for vocational skills competitions and excellence

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NCG (Newcastle College Group): Major UK further education group operating Newcastle College and several other colleges across the North East. Directly comparable to RNN Group in structure as a multi-college FE group with apprenticeship and employer-facing services.
• Luminate Education Group: Multi-college FE/HE group based in Yorkshire operating Leeds City College, Keighley College, and Harrogate College. Highly comparable to RNN as a regional UK further education college group with a similar campus-led, vocational and academic mix.
• Capital City College Group: London-based FE group formed from the merger of City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College, and CONEL. Directly comparable to RNN as a merged multi-college further education group with both vocational and higher education offerings.
• BPP University: Private UK higher education and professional training provider offering degrees and apprenticeships. Comparable to RNN as a UK vocational/apprenticeship-focused provider with employer relationships, though operating without the same regional college footprint.
• Chichester College Group: South-East England FE group encompassing Chichester, Brinsbury, Crawley, and Worthing Colleges. Comparable to RNN Group as a regional further education group with multiple college campuses and apprenticeship provision.
• LTE Group: UK further education and training group including The Manchester College, Novus, and Total People apprenticeships. Comparable to RNN as a multi-campus FE group with a strong apprenticeship and employer engagement focus.
• Education Training Collective: Teesside-based FE group operating Stockton Riverside College and Redcar & Cleveland College. Similar to RNN Group in providing regional further education, apprenticeships, and employer training services in a defined geographic catchment.
• Learning Curve Group: UK-based vocational training and apprenticeship provider serving employers and learners nationwide. Comparable to RNN in the apprenticeship, adult skills, and employer-funded training segments, though operating without a multi-campus college estate.
• Activate Learning: Multi-college FE/HE group spanning Reading College, Bracknell & Wokingham College, and Oxford-based further education. Comparable to RNN Group in operating a regional multi-campus vocational and academic training portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson: Global education and qualifications company providing vocational qualifications, assessment, and training content. Comparable to RNN as a major participant in UK vocational education and qualifications, though operating at much broader scale and as a qualifications body rather than a college operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rnn-group-uk
• Xx.com/RNNGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/RNNGroupUK

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RNN Group