Salford Uni launches training company

THE University of Salford has launched a subsidiary company to provide learning and professional development for industry.

Salford Professional Development Limited aims to turn over £5m and will create 10 jobs.

It also estimates an additional 300 jobs will be creasted across the North West as a result of the economic benefits generated by enhancing workers’ skills and productivity.

The company will provide courses and personal development support for private, public and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and overseas.  The courses will focus on the university’s specialist areas of the built environment, digital and media, energy and health and well-being. Tailor-made courses will also be developed for businesses.

It will also facilitate links between business and industry in the region and companies and clients in India, China, the Middle East and Africa – areas in which the university already has strong links through international student recruitment and research and development partnerships.

Dr Adrian Graves, eputy vice-chancellor and project sponsor, said:  “The launch of this company marks an important moment for the university, heralding the start of a new, consistent approach to the administration, marketing and management of high value, demand-led training. Building on the success of our existing continuous professional development offering, Salford Professional Development Ltd will be viewed as a recognised brand – across the North West but with aspirations to deliver its programmes abroad.”

Launch programmes include courses developed in collaboration with Envirolink, aligned to the construction and energy industries leading on sustainability, retrofit and low carbon building design.

Many of the courses, including in broadcast and digital media, will also be delivered at MediaCityUK.