Exclusive: BII signs £300,000 China deal

The BII has signed a deal worth £300,000 to sell the intellectual property rights to its Induction Training certificate into China.

Chief executive Neil Robertson signed the contract last week and attended a reception at the Chinese Embassy last Friday to set an official seal on the deal.

The BII is looking to sell two other training packages and awards schemes into the Chinese market — a course for business development managers and a Chinese version of BII Licensee of the Year.

The £300,000 payment covers the first year of a franchise deal with Chinese training company BCW — the BII will receive further payments each year afterwards on a per student basis.

It is thought that as many as 100,000 Chinese students a year may eventually take the BII's Induction Training certificate - around two to three per cent of the 6,000,000 Chinese students taking first degrees.

Ma Liang, deputy chairman of the Global Education Consortium and shareholder in BCW, told the Morning Advertiser: "The BII's qualification will help Chinese students learn universal social skills and provide valuable experience of an international business environment.

"The qualification will be invaluable in acquiring the necessary social skills relating to employability."

The Induction certificate will be piloted at universities in around 15 Chinese cities before being rolled out across the country.

The BII will provide quality assurance, acting as external verifier with twice yearly visits to China.

Liang added: "This will not only benefit China but also UK businesses, particularly those within the hospitality sector, who want to expand into China."