University and Carillion join forces

The University of Wolverhampton and Carillion have signed a new agreement which will see them working together more closely in the future.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the University and Carillion Construction agreeing to collaborate in a number of key areas.

This includes identifying projects for which joint tenders, bids or grants can be made; opportunities for students to undertake internships, work and industrial placements; working together on potential consultancy and continuous professional development activities; and engaging in corporate social responsibility activities.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Geoff Layer, along with the Managing Director of Carillion Construction Services, signed the agreement at a meeting at the Mayor’s Parlour at the Civic Centre on Thursday 26 March 2015.

The agreement between the University, a leading provider of advanced courses and training in construction and the built environment, and the Wolverhampton-based construction and support services group is to run for four years with an option to renew for further four-year periods.

Professor Layer said: “We welcome this new development in our relationship with a major company such as Carillion.

“It is great news in terms of two big employers in Wolverhampton working together more closely and the agreement opens the door to a range of opportunities in key areas for both parties.

“We’re particularly pleased it provides our students with access to quality industrial experience through internships and placements, helping them gain valuable employability skills.

“We feel it is important for the continued economic development in the region, in particular in the area of construction and the built environment, supporting our aims of creating a real hub of excellence in this field within the UK.

“We hope it’s the start of a very successful and fruitful partnership.”

Adam Green, Managing Director of Carillion Construction Services, said: “The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step in re-establishing links between the University of Wolverhampton and Carillion and developing a longer term partnership between the organisations.

“As neighbours and as two of the largest employers in Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country, this collaboration will not only benefit both parties but also the wider community in which we work and live, and will support the aspirations of the city in terms of strategic regeneration and investment.

“Carillion is firmly behind the vision of supporting, promoting and improving standards of educational delivery across the city through our work with the local authority on Wolverhampton Building Schools for the Future. We are also helping drive the skills agenda for construction and engineering in the Black Country and Birmingham area through our support for the West Midlands Construction University Technical College.” 

Carillion is a leading integrated support services company with a substantial portfolio of Public Private Partnership projects and extensive construction capabilities.

The Group had annual revenue in 2013 of some £4.1 billion, employs around 40,000 people and operates across the UK, in the Middle East and Canada. Its UK headquarters is in Wolverhampton, where it employs 600 people.