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IoD urges Tynwald to back Nunnery sale for IT centre

 

A group representing bosses in the Island has thrown its weight behind plans to create a new IT education centre at the Nunnery.

The local branch of the Institute of Directors has written an open letter to Tynwald members, urging them to support the initiative.

A business consortium this week announced it had raised £15 million from investors to buy the property.

In the letter IoD branch chairman Clive Parrish says the project has the potential to fill the current and future skills gap in the Island's ICT sector.

The Manx Educational Foundation wants to establish a privately-run centre for information and communication technology, which would attract students from the Island and overseas. 

The site is owned by the Manx government and the group has now raised the private investment required for a sale to proceed.

Later this month Tynwald will debate a motion recommending the site be sold for £5 million, subject to a number of covenants to ensure the Nunnery is run as an educational establishment and not sold for other purposes.

The IoD describes itself as 'extremely supportive' of the project and its open letter urges members to support the initiative on grounds it will benefit the Isle of Man economy in the long-term and relieve taxpayers the cost of maintaining a vacant property.   

 

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