Walsall College in Walsall, West Midlands, UK - Reinforcing its long-term commitment to the sign making, display graphics and engraving industries, Roland DG (UK) Ltd. has announced The Roland Academy, the industry’s first UK-based accredited training program.
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| From left to right: Chris Ball, Principle of Walsall College, James Hobday, Head of Sales, Roland DG (UK) Ltd., Hide kakiuchi, Managing Director, Roland Japan, and Jerry Davies, Managing Director, Roland DG (UK) Ltd. |
Established in association with Walsall College, the Roland Academy marks the next chapter in this dynamic partnership that originated two years ago with the inception of the Roland DG Suite. The Roland Academy brings together the expertise of both organizations to develop the skills of UK professionals
across the sign making and display graphics industries.
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| Sir Richard Needham, Vice Chairman, Dyson Appliances. |
In a speech to officially launch Roland Academy, Dyson Appliances Vice Chairman Richard Needham applauded the joint initiative. “This partnership between Roland and Walsall College is bringing together some of the more progressive
thinking in industry and education,” he said. “As I learned from my time as a minister in Belfast, one of the ways to help people move forward is to train them, train them and then retrain them. Here in Walsall we are now bringing training and industry together to make ‘diamonds’ in the process. For example, the two students here today, Adam Williams and Gary Burton, have trained as sign makers at Walsall College and since started their own successful sign business. They are a wonderful example of how effective training can be.”
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Chris Ball, Principal of Walsall College said, “As a vocational training institution, we have a clear need to provide our students with the training that best equips them for their future. Whether they are seeking employment, looking to increase their skill levels, or working to develop their own business, the college is committed to helping students develop leading edge skills that will benefit them in a competitive marketplace.”
Courses include: Introduction to digital printing; Intermediate digital printing; Introduction to engraving; Expanding your engraving skills; Metaza owners workshop; Onyx RIP; Wasatch RIP; SignLab; Corel Draw; Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. One- and two-day courses are offered, with each course providing companies and their staff with the most up-to-date skills and techniques. Across the industry sector, training is endorsed by leaders including CADlink, GMP and Gretag Macbeth.
Jerry Davies, Managing DIrector, Roland DG said, “We have been working with Walsall College for some time now developing a dedicated learning environment. The Roland Academy allows us to both develop this training forum and provide, for the first time, a venue for professionals to improve their skills with fully accredited training courses.
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| From left to right: James Hobday, Head of Sales, Roland DG (UK) Ltd., Sir Richard Needham, Vice Chairman, Dyson Appliances, and Andrew Evans, Walsall College, Signwork Academy Manager. |
“Roland DG is recognized as the supplier of choice for top professionals worldwide. As a company, we continue to lead the way with innovative hardware and software products including high quality digital printers, vinyl cutters and engravers. We remain committed to expanding our technology base and market reach, and to our ongoing pursuit of excellence. The establishment of Roland Academy reflects this philosophy, and we are proud of this significant development.” |
