Esports: Exciting New Employer Academy

On 1 March 2023, we welcomed Andy Hyde, owner and director of FlyMe and SkyPods to Dearne Valley College (DVC) to celebrate his new partnership with RNN Group. The event also marked the grand opening of a redesigned gaming room within the Esports department.

Employer academies are businesses that collaborate with colleges to identify the skills and knowledge that students will need to be successful in their chosen industries. These partnerships enable employer academies to have input on the curriculum and help shape the learning experience for a more skilled future workforce.

Founded in 2019, FlyMe is a fully operational virtual airport where customers are able to take part in flight simulation and other immersive experiences such as security and air traffic control. SkyPods upcycles retired aircraft parts to create bespoke luxury products such as garden offices and summer houses. 

Andy found success in his current enterprise by delivering a unique service to our local area. He said that “With having a business that is tech-related, it is a great opportunity for us to engage with a local college. We are going to be working as a team to give the learners more experience and bridge the gap for future careers.”

Andy has been working with Esports department since his son attended our college and officially started his partnership with DVC a couple of months ago. Andy will be contributing to the curriculum for the Esports department and working with students on enterprise and entrepreneurship. The event concluded with Andy receiving a gift of a gaming shirt that he has sponsored for the department and its current gaming team.

Curriculum Team Leader of Esports, Lee Bowes, added that “our students will benefit from Andy’s exceptional track record on creating unique ideas and setting them up into fully functioning businesses. Students are going to get great knowledge and experience from his input. I am absolutely delighted to have Andy on board.’

To find out more about the courses we offer in Esports click here.