RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP has successfully secured the sale of the Dudley-based Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) to Dudley Council, ensuring the continued operation of a pioneering transport innovation facility.
Deviesh Raikundalia and Tyrone Courtman of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of BCIMO on Tuesday, 1st July 2025.
BCIMO, a not-for-profit Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) based in Dudley, West Midlands, operates the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC). This facility is dedicated to advancing transport innovation and is considered a significant asset to the region.
Following their appointment, the Administrators ensured the Innovation Centre remained operational throughout the administration period. A focused marketing process then led to the sale of the business and its assets to Dudley Council.
This transaction has effectively safeguarded the future of the VLRNIC, preserving continuity for its existing occupiers and laying a foundation for renewed investment in transport innovation. Dudley Council is now expected to focus on stabilising operations and revitalising the VLRNIC’s research activities, aiming to reinforce its position as a world-class hub for innovation.
Advisors involved in facilitating the transaction included solicitors Sills & Betteridge and agents Lambert Smith Hampton.
Deviesh Raikundalia, Restructuring Advisory Director at RSM UK and Joint Administrator, said: “We are delighted to have secured a sale that ensures the continued operation of the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre and preserves its reputation as a leading innovation centre. We are grateful to the occupiers of the centre and stakeholders for their support, patience and cooperation throughout the administration process, and we wish Dudley Council every success with this venture.”
Councillor Steve Clark, Cabinet Member for Resources at Dudley Council, added: “The council has previously provided financial support to BCIMO and so, when the board of directors put the organisation into administration, we made the decision to put in a bid for the business and assets to protect this investment. The bid was successful and as the owner of the site, we will now be receiving income from the existing tenants, while looking for an operator to take on the responsibility of operating the site. This was an invest to save decision, which will generate income for the council now and into the future, champion local innovation and support the creation of high value employment opportunities in our borough.”
IMAGE: BCIMO
