RNN Group Achievements in 2025
2025 has seen a myriad of amazing new achievements and initiatives throughout the year.
Awards and Recognition
Finalist – Quality Professionals Awards 2025
RNN Group was named a finalist in the Quality Improvement Team of the Year category at the national Quality Professionals Awards, recognising excellence in quality improvement in education and training. This highlights the Group’s commitment to academic standards and positive learner experience.
Apprenticeship Achievement
At the Annual Apprentice Awards held during National Apprenticeship Week 2025, students and employers were celebrated for outstanding contributions across sectors like Business, Construction, Childcare and Health. The Feoffees Award for Apprentice of the Year was presented to Evan South, marking one of the Group’s biggest learner recognitions of the year.
Investors in Diversity Award Retained
RNN Group has successfully retained the highly coveted ‘Investors in Diversity’ award. The award is seen as the national standard of equality and is given to organisations who have implemented fair, respectful, equal, diverse, inclusive and engaging practices throughout their organisation.
RNN was particularly praised for its work in relation to inclusive environments, opportunities to succeed and mental health training.
Read more about RNN Group retaining the Investors in Diversity award
Strategic Vision and Growth
Strategic Plan 2025–2030
RNN Group promoted its updated strategic vision focused on skills and learning excellence, innovation, community engagement, and internal culture. Notable ambitions include responding to sector change and strengthening employer collaboration while building on growth from previous plans.
Educational Quality and Accreditation
Matrix Standard Retained
The Group successfully retained the Matrix accreditation – the international quality standard for information, advice and guidance services – highlighting high standards in leadership, delivery, and student support.
Read more about the Group retaining Matrix standard
Student Competitions and Academic Success
Intercollege Competition Gold
In the 2025 Intercollege Competitions, RNN Group students excelled across multiple skill areas (e.g., hair/beauty, construction, digital), scoring a record 53 points and securing Gold overall – a major achievement celebrating learner talent and training excellence.
Read more about the Intercollege competition
Higher Education Numbers Increasing at RNN Group
In its fifth year of celebrating a Graduation for Higher Education students, RNN Group also bucked the national trend by increasing its Higher Education numbers at the start of the academic year 2025.
The Group’s Higher Education offering has increased in recent years to include more flexible offerings such as Higher Technical Qualifications, Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships and this year introducing the HN Flex to students.
New Programmes and Inclusive Initiatives
Inclusive Pathway for Learners
A new three-year inclusive pathway was launched to support learners with additional needs (including SEND, SEMH, and other barriers) with tailored progression plans and personal development-focused education. This enhances accessibility and learner confidence from day one.
Employer Engagement and Partnerships
New Employer Academy Partner – Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber
The Group welcomed the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce as the latest Employer Academy partner, strengthening local business–education links to support real skills training and learner employment pathways alongside Everlast and Lotus Health Care too!
Monthly Employer Awards Scheme
Throughout 2025, RNN Group’s Employer of the Month awards celebrated local businesses supporting apprenticeships and training – including Elecfab Ltd, Appletree Day Nursery, Equans and others. These awards reinforce employer contributions to skills and employability.
Open Events
Our open events continued to welcome record numbers of registered families and visitors throughout the year with a new enrolment process for current and new learners which supported a calm and reassuring start to the year for all our learners both new and returning.
All these new initiatives mean one thing: that our learners are enjoying more offerings within enrichment, greater partnerships with employers, and being given the best tools to achieve and be successful in their lives and this is why the RNN Group continues to drive innovation and skills in our communities and works hard to develop new initiatives and offerings year on year.
A huge thank you to everyone who has made everything possible this year.
#OneTeam!