A Brighton music college has rejected claims it is up for sale and has revealed that in fact it is planning to expand on the world stage.

Bosses at BIMM in Brighton say reports national newspapers that the business is being sold are untrue.

Instead, David O'Connor, marketing director at the college, which has bases in Rock Place and Brunswick Street West, said it had called in a financial advisor to help it work on plans for growing the business.

In 2010, Sovereign Capital, a UK private equity 'Buy and Build' specialist invested £10 million in the college to become the majority shareholder.

A Sovereign spokesman said that investment bank Rothschild had been appointed “to review strategic options".

BIMM is the country's provider of modern music vocational and higher education. It has outposts in Bristol, Dublin and Manchester and offers courses to more than 3,400 students.

It was founded by a group of four backers in 2001, including Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson.

Its patron is Roger Daltrey, legendary singer with The Who, who presented the students' certificates at this year's graduation at the Hilton Brighton Metropole in Kings Road.

Former students include Tom Odell, The Kooks and Ben Thompson, drummer with Northern Irish indie band Two Door Cinema Club.

Mr O'Connor told the Argus: “We conducted a strategic review 18 months ago which was when we decided to expand the courses to include event management and to open a new college in Manchester.

"BIMM has appointed financial advisor, Rothschild's, to help it access further investment to build on the group's success in 2012-13.

"This process will aid the ongoing development of existing centres, further UK college expansion and setting up BIMM internationally in Europe, US or Asia.”