Building Futures: Adult Learning at The Bridge Skills Hub
Life doesn’t follow a single path, and neither should education.
At North Notts College, part of the RNN Group, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey, not limited to your school years.
That’s why we’re proud to be involved in The Bridge Skills Hub here in Worksop which is making higher education more accessible for adults in the Bassetlaw area.
Ahead of the adults open event on Wednesday 30th April, find out more about what higher education options are available in your local area.
What is the Bridge Skills Hub?
Whether you’re looking to retrain, upskill, or simply do something for yourself, The Bridge Skills Hub can help bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
The Bridge Skills Hub is Worksop’s dedicated higher education centre based in the heart of the town centre. Its purpose is to close skills gaps, boost employability and raise aspirations in the North Nottinghamshire area.
Thanks to over £3.5 million of government funding from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Getting Building Fund, Bassetlaw District Council set about transforming the old job centre building on Bridge Court into a state-of-the-art education and training facility.
Following a three-year renovation project, The Bridge Skills Hub officially opened in March 2023. What was a neglected eyesore of a building has been completely overhauled. The Bridge is clean, light and airy with some amazing facilities for learners, staff and local businesses.
There are six classrooms with the latest technology and equipment, a well-equipped IT suite, an 80-seater auditorium, breakout spaces and offices.
It also has a clinical suite, mock hospital ward and two clinical teaching rooms for use within the healthcare curriculum.
An exciting new addition is the Fusion Energy Café – the world’s first of its kind. As well as fuelling hungry minds, the on-site café aims to raise awareness and increase knowledge of fusion energy science and technology. The fusion sector is set to be the future of the world’s energy supply with the potential to be a virtually limitless, clean, and safe energy source.
The café is designed like the interior of a tokamak – the machine that makes fusion plasma – and its environmentally responsible menu is themed around space.
Over the coming years, it is hoped the Fusion Energy Café will support our students with for STEP and STEM skills learning ready for exciting employment opportunities in the future, particularly as a prototype fusion powerplant has been planned in nearby West Burton.
What courses are available at The Bridge Skills Hub?
The RNN Group has been the leading education provider at The Bridge Skills Hub since spring 2022. Over the last three years, we have enhanced our education offer within the area by now having three campuses; the other two being at Worksop and Retford.
The Bridge Skills Hub focuses solely on higher education courses. Currently, these cover three main industries:
- Computing – HNC/HND in Computing (levels 4 and 5)
- Health – HNC/HND in Healthcare Professions Support (levels 4 and 5)
- Marketing – HNC in Marketing Management (level 4)
Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) are a smart and effective route to a great career. They are equivalent to the first or second year of a university degree, but with a strong emphasis on practical skills and real-world knowledge in a specific subject.
From September, we will also be offering the new HN Flex in Computing programme which means you can select up to four modules from the HNC or HND to do at your leisure – a great option if you can’t or don’t want to commit to doing the full higher education course.
All of the higher education courses are accredited by partner universities and can be done on a full or part-time basis. Our course fees are also significantly less than traditional degree pathways, saving you thousands of pounds on tuition costs.
What makes learning at The Bridge Skills Hub different?
Pursuing education later in life is one of the most empowering decisions you can make.
You might be considering returning to education to change careers or upskill in your current one. Higher education opens doors to new opportunities and personal growth.
However, we understand the unique challenges adult learners face. Many of our students are balancing work, family, and other commitments. That’s why we offer:
- Flexible course options, including part-time and evening classes.
- Supportive tutors who understand the journey of returning learners.
- Practical, career-focused programmes that lead to real qualifications.
- A welcoming learning environment where your experience and voice are valued.
As it’s backed by the RNN team, you’ll still have access to our fantastic student support services should you need it.
Our student services team can help with many aspects of student life including careers advice and guidance, work experience opportunities, financial support, and health and wellbeing advice.
We’ve also fostered some strong links with local employers who work with us to design curriculums, run masterclasses, offer work placements, and give careers advice sessions.
This means our students graduate with the technical and employability skills needed to thrive in their chosen career – because let’s face it, getting a new or better job at the end of it is what makes most adults enrol on a higher education course.
Ready to take that next step?
If you’ve ever thought about going back to education, now is the time to explore your options. Your age, background, or current job doesn’t define your future – it’s there waiting for you, so let’s build it together.
Come and see for yourself the courses and facilities on offer at The Bridge Skills Hub at our forthcoming adults open event on Wednesday 30th April 4pm – 7pm.