Greater Manchester Institute of Technology unveils the BBC as its latest industry partner

Manchester, 22 September 2025: The Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) has announced a new strategic partnership with the BBC, the world’s leading public service broadcaster. This collaboration will play a vital role in shaping the region’s digital and technical talent pipeline, providing Greater Manchester’s learners and workforce with the skills needed for the future of media.

As one of the largest technical employers in the North West, with over 3,500 staff based at its MediaCityUK site in Salford, the BBC will play an essential role in the GMIoT’s mission to deliver cutting-edge higher technical education aligned to the needs of industry. The partnership will help create new routes into creative media, engineering, and digital technology roles through high-quality vocational training and degree-level apprenticeships.

Claire Foreman, Director of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, said: “We are delighted to welcome the BBC as an employer partner. As a national media institution, their commitment to innovation, education and skills development is closely aligned with our mission to transform higher technical education in Greater Manchester. Together, we’ll ensure learners across the region have direct access to industry-relevant training and clear pathways into rewarding careers.”

During the partnership, the BBC will support curriculum development and an enhanced student experience in collaboration with GMIoT academic partners, including the University of Salford. This will ensure students graduate with the transferable, work-ready skills employers are seeking. The BBC will also contribute to outreach and recruitment activity designed to widen participation in higher education, particularly among underrepresented groups.

Suzanne Lord, Head of Media Operations – Salford and Birmingham for the BBC, added: “As an organisation we invest in education and the UK skills pipeline, with BBC Bitesize being used by three quarters of learners, and the BBC committed to delivering 1,000 apprentices a year. We’re thrilled to partner with the GMIoT and look forward to inspiring new talent in the areas of digital, computing and creative media technologies.”

Tim Sargeant, Head of Production Workflows and Systems at BBC Technology Group, said: “The BBC in Greater Manchester is a digital powerhouse, home to many of our technology, engineering and creative operations staff and to some of the BBC’s biggest digital media products. We’re growing in our bases outside London and Salford is a thriving centre of content, people and innovation.”

The BBC’s established apprenticeship programmes and broader investment in education, including its commitment to supporting 1,000 apprentices annually by 2025, is a major asset in strengthening the region’s skills infrastructure. To further support the ambition of the GMIoT, the BBC plans to host events, provide guest speakers and engage in outreach programmes to inspire the next generation of engineers, developers, and media professionals and equip them with first-hand industry insights.

Pamela Jonna, a third-year student at the University of Salford studying Social Media & Content Creation as part of the GMIoT, said: “For students like me across the GMIoT, this new partnership with the BBC is incredibly exciting. It gives us even more opportunities to access industry knowledge and real-world experience – now including one of the most influential and respected organisations in media and technology. Knowing that my learning is shaped by input from employers like the BBC makes me feel confident that the skills I’m building will properly prepare me for a future career in the digital, creative, and technical industries.”

Jo Purves, Pro Vice-Chancellor Partnerships and Global Development at the University of Salford, concluded: “As a founding academic partner of the GMIoT, we’re delighted to welcome the BBC to our collaborative efforts to strengthen technical education in Greater Manchester. This partnership will build on our joint commitment to transforming technical education to meet the evolving needs of the digital economy and will be invaluable in ensuring our courses remain industry-relevant and future-focused. It will open doors for students from all backgrounds to pursue exciting, high-impact careers with one of the nation’s most recognisable employers in the creative and digital sectors.”

The BBC joins GMIoT’s existing strategic employer partners, which includes Laing O’Rourke, Siemens and GCHQ, providing direct industry connections for learners across construction, manufacturing, cybersecurity – and now the media.