A consortium of private businesses has raised enough money to realise an ambition to develop the Nunnery as an ICT specialist training centre.

The government, which owns the estate, has been in negotiations with the private sector for over a year and will now ask Tynwald for the go-ahead to complete the ?5million sale to the International Centre for Technology.

The concept for the centre was created by the Manx Educational and Community Foundation, a registered charity founded by 20 local businesses. MEF will be a shareholder in the new company. The principal shareholder will be Business Doctor Investments, a consortium of entrepreneurs managed by Isle of Man resident Philip Vermeulen.

Department of Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said: 'A new private company, backed by many of the Island’s leading businesses, is seeking to develop the Nunnery into a private educational and training centre which will specialise in the application of leading ICT in business.

'This centre could help alleviate existing skill shortages and offer an additional supply of ICT skills to stimulate the e-business sector and the wider economy. Other benefits would include the local economic contribution of students and academic staff, capital works at the Nunnery boosting the construction industry, and an increase in awareness of the Island as a centre for e-business.'


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