Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC) & Brigade Foundation, a ‘Not for Profit Trust’ of Brigade Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up “Brigade-BCIC Skill Development Academy – a Centre of Excellence”, with state-of-the-art infrastructure on a 5 acres land parcel in Aerospace Park, Bangalore North. The Centre will provide opportunities to students and working professionals in upgrading their skills in their respective sectors. The idea is to create a center of excellence where training imparted translates to better skills and productivity for the industry sectors. This is a unique opportunity for Industry and Institutions to work together to create a more skilled workforce and gain more employment opportunities.

The virtual event happened in the presence of Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, IT & BT, Skill & Entrepreneurship, Govt. of Karnataka; Mr. M R Jaishankar, Chairman & Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Ltd; Mr. K R Sekar, President-BCIC and Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP; Dr. H Shashidhar, IAS-Rtd, CEO, Brigade Foundation; Dr. L Ravindran, Senior Vice President, BCIC and MD & CEO, Wealthmax Group of Companies; Mr. Vineet Verma, Chairman, Tourism, Hospitality and Facility, Expert Committee, BCIC and MD-WTC; Mr. T R Parasuraman, Immediate Past President, BCIC and President & Whole Time Director, Toyota Industries Engines Pvt Ltd; Mr. A Murali, Advisor, BCIC and Vice President, Toyota Tsusho India; Mr. Niranjan Mandyam, Assistant Secretary General, BCIC.

The Brigade Foundation was established in 2003 to make meaningful contributions to society in the areas of Education, Health and Community Development. Having set up three well known ‘The Brigade Schools’; co-Founded the Indian Music Experience Museum; and in the process of setting up a 100-bed Hospital with the renowned St John’s Hospital, Brigade Foundation has now partnered with the prominent industry body, BCIC, to set up Brigade- BCIC Skill Development Academy with a focus in the fields of Construction, Hospitality & Tourism, Manufacturing, and Retail. The bulk of the 11 lakh skill workers shortage in Karnataka State is from these four sectors. The ‘Not-for-Profit’ initiative aims to make a positive contribution to the lives of unemployed and underemployed people, apart from meeting the needs of the sectors. BCIC will provide all academic and knowledge support in the areas of Construction, Retail, Tourism & Hospitality and Manufacturing sectors.