The Department for International Trade: UK-China Infrastructure Academy

Alliance Manchester Business School is working with The Department for International Trade and Infrastructure and Projects Authority as well as a consortium of leading UK and international businesses to deliver the UK-China Infrastructure Academy.

This major initiative, backed by the UK Government, is designed to strengthen opportunities and understanding between Chinese and UK businesses; and attract high-quality Chinese investment into the UK. It forms a key pillar of the UK-China Infrastructure Alliance, announced during the 2016 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogues as a key platform to enhance UK-China commercial cooperation in infrastructure in each other’s markets and in third markets.

The Academy is an executive education programme offering courses, seminars and workshops over the next three years (2018-2020) to senior executives from Chinese businesses and to officials from the Chinese Government.

Delegates learn from world-leading Alliance Manchester Business School academics to establish a deep understanding into the requirements, methods and best practices for delivering major infrastructure, energy and regeneration projects in the UK.  They will also access practical examples and case studies – with first-hand exposure to live projects around the UK – through our partner organisations.

During the programme’s first cohorts in 2018, delegates heard speakers including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham; Former Chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein; Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Eamonn Boylan; Chinese Consul General to Manchester, Dr Sun Dali; and senior officials from a variety of government departments such as Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for International Trade.

Delegates also visited Manchester City Football Stadium, Manchester Airport and Drax Power Station.

“The UK-China Infrastructure Academy programme is incredibly important for the infrastructure sector. In 2017, China’s direct investment into the UK more than doubled to over £15 billion and as an international economic department, we’re excited to be involved in attracting foreign investment to all the regions of the UK through initiatives such as the UK-China Infrastructure Academy.

China as a world leading economy and the UK’s sixth largest trading partner is an important market for British companies and the Academy is a great opportunity to strengthen our trading relationships with China.”

— Minister for Investment, Graham Stuart
Strategic Partners

During the programmes of the previous 5 cohorts, delegates heard speakers including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham; Former Chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein; Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Eamonn Boylan; BRI Envoy, HM Treasury, Sir Douglas Flint; Deputy Head of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, Minister Chen Wen; and senior officials from a variety of government departments such as Department for International Trade, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

“Our support in delivering this UK-China Infrastructure Academy Programme is another significant development in building on our strong relationship with China. I am delighted that we are able to deliver this prestigious joint initiative between the UK and Chinese governments. Alliance Manchester Business School and the University are home to some of the leading experts on business links between our two countries and we have put together a programme for the delegates that will foster relationships, and encourage infrastructure investment.”

— Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor, The University of Manchester
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