GC partners with Bamboo Technology Group

Undeterred by the current climate, Gloucestershire College continues to forge alliances with local businesses to support the wider economy. 

Gloucestershire College is delighted to announce the next step in a growing partnership with Bamboo Technology Group, a leading IoT, connectivity, data, IT and cyber security solutions provider. 

The leading local business is set to move into 9,500 square feet of modern office space at the College’s Cheltenham Campus, which is located just a stone’s throw away from GCHQ and the new cyber park development. 

The move will double Bamboo’s current capacity in the town centre and place it on the doorstep of increasing new talent, skills and services, with the 60-strong team planning to join the campus in September, assuming it will re-open before then. 

Work is currently being carried out to separate and transform the second-level offices and facilities to provide system configuration areas, tech hubs, client workshop space and more to diversify Bamboo’s working environment; accommodating different teams and ways of working as the company continues to grow. 

Andy Bates, Chief Financial Officer, said: “We’re excited to strengthen our partnership with such a thriving, industry-leading, local company, Bamboo Technology Group, particularly during this period of adjustment and uncertainty in business. 

“With Cheltenham Campus forming part of the town’s growing reputation as the cyber capital of the UK, thanks to the recent launch of our cyber degree apprenticeship, it makes perfect sense for Bamboo to make the most of our location, facilities and services.  

“We look forward to welcoming the team, when it is safe to do so.” 

Lorrin White, Managing Director of Bamboo Technology Group, added: “The team at Bamboo are looking forward to working collaboratively with Gloucestershire College. They have afforded us a wonderful opportunity to work with them in a technology hot spot that will nurture and educate a critical talent pool.    

“We will ensure our teams also take advantage of the cyber courses becoming available and hope to provide reciprocal education opportunities as our respective focus on technology, cyber and digital develops.”  

The College approached Bruton Knowles to create a commercial business model for surplus office space within its Cheltenham Campus, with a focus on securing interest from the technology and cyber businesses sector to complement the College’s educational programme. Dorian Wragg, Commercial Partner at Bruton Knowles, has headed up the project since 2017 and had already secured a number of high profile tenants, and identified that Bamboo Technology would be an ideal symbiotic partner that would foster a cross over between education and commercial excellence and provide the College with a conduit to the latest in data and communication technology. He was able to introduce Bamboo to the College, off market, and negotiated a new lease which completed in March 2020. 

The vibrant Cheltenham Campus is currently home to the College’s professional services staff, student-run Number One Restaurant and Graduations hair and beauty salon, Cheltenham Fashion Academy and Tinies Nursery, with business management solutions experts CloudTamers, and aviation training service provider Global ATS, also benefitting from on-site office space. 

Courses available at the campus include professional services such as accounting and teacher training; arts and media; hospitality and catering; construction; computing; counselling; early years; hair and beauty; health and social care; engineering, languages and more – all of which are accepting applications for September. 

The anticipated cyber degree apprenticeship, in partnership with UWE Bristol, starts in September 2020 and will also be taught at the campus. For more information about GC’s cyber degree apprenticeship, visit www.gloscol.ac.uk/cyber 

The College recently launched a series of free online courses to help people continue learning in lockdown, with more to become available over the coming weeks. For more information visit www.gloscol.ac.uk/online-learning