The Black Country Innovation Manufacturing Organisation in Dudley has been placed in Administration.

The organisation was funded in part by local authorities which included Coventry City Council and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, along with the European Union and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

BCIMO included the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, and the site had been well known for testing a Very Light Rail system which is planned for Coventry. Very Light Rail vehicles use batteries rather than overhead wires, while the prefabricated track has shallower foundations than conventional tramways and does not need costly work to divert utilities under the road surface.

It has been revealed that RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of the Company on 1 July, although no further details have been published. The nearest offices of the Administrators are in Birmingham,

The marketing and operations team of Olivia Brown and Hollie Chidley have circulated a personal message, in which they said: ‘We’re so proud of what’s been achieved, from launching the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre and hosting the UK VLR Conference and a royal visit, to delivering the Clean Futures Accelerator and engaging with thousands of stakeholders, partners, schools and members of the public. Plus, of course, our most recent Family Day which was a tremendous success.’

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