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Eversheds Sutherland advises on the establishment of Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology

Eversheds Sutherland has advised on the establishment of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT).

Institutes of technology (IoT) are new employer-led institutes which will offer higher level technical education to help close skills gaps in key STEM areas. The first wave of twelve IoTs approved in April 2019 are backed by £170 million of government investment to fund industry standard facilities and equipment.

GBSIoT is a collaboration led by Solihull College & University Centre, Aston University and Birmingham City University working alongside South and City College Birmingham as a core partner. The collaboration is also supported by BMET College, University College Birmingham and the University of Birmingham as well as a number of significant local employers.

The partnership will jointly design, develop and widen education and training opportunities aligned to the latest skills needs of leading-edge employers, the local, regional and national economy and Government priorities for technical education.

The Eversheds Sutherland team is led by corporate Partner Mark Taylor and Principal Associate, Morag Roddick. The team has provided advice on all aspects of the project including corporate, commercial, funding, IP and estates.

Mark Taylor said:

“We are delighted to have been involved in the structuring and implementation of GBSIoT and are pleased to see technical skills training being taken to the next level through the introduction of these institutes of technology. We wish GBSIoT every success.”

John Callaghan, GBSIoT director, said:

“Opportunities in the tech sector are expected to increase as businesses develop and adopt new technologies and, as a region, we want to ensure that our young people have the necessary skills to take up these opportunities. Eversheds Sutherland has been a tremendous support in guiding the partners through the legal process to establish GBSIoT.”

Eversheds Sutherland has advised on five of the first wave IoT projects. The formal competition for wave 2 will be launched by the DfE later this year.