Support services group Mouchel Parkman is on the verge of pushing back the barriers of the construction and consultancy sectors by expanding into television production
Mouchel Parkman, with Interactive TV, is up against production companies Sky, Granada and Carlton to run a 12-hour-a-day television channel dedicated to training teachers. The £20m three-year contract is to be awarded by the Department for Education and Skills next month.

Despite its background in construction, Mouchel Parkman has developed a reputation for working in the education sector to improve the management and the development of teachers.

Stuart Black, business development director at Mouchel Parkman, said: "We are bidding for the project and we understand that a decision is imminent."

A DfES spokesperson said the contract to develop the digital television channel, called Teacher TV, would start as soon as a preferred bidder had been selected.

The channel will be editorially independent, but we will be setting up and funding it

DfES spokesperson

Teacher TV is part of a wave of channels emerging with heavy public sector involvement. This is the result of the communications bill, which also allows councils the opportunity to bid to operate local television stations.

The DfES spokesperson added: "The channel will be editorially independent, but we will be setting up and funding it."

The spokesperson would not confirm the bidders, but said that up to four were on the shortlist. After it is put on trial, it is believed that the station could target as many as 1 million viewers.