County Durham company Learning Curve Group has snapped up a Derby business to cement its position as one of the 海角视频’s largest training providers.
The Spennymoor firm has completed the acquisition of Acorn Training Consultants Ltd, based in Ripley, Derbyshire, which delivers professional training to young people to help develop their skills and reach their full potential through study programmes and traineeships.
Learning Curve chief executive Brenda McLeish said acquiring the firm from fellow training company Babington was all the more important following the pandemic, which has led to an all-time high for youth unemployment.
The business moved into Durhamgate’s Dunelm Rise at the start of last year and had to expand into a third building at the site within six months, on the back of growing client numbers across the 海角视频.
The group delivers education and training courses nationally and now supports more than 4,500 businesses with workplace training, helping more than 160,000 learners to gain nationally recognised qualifications each year.
It also saw a jump in demand during lockdown.
Ms McLeish said: “We are delighted that Acorn will become part of LCG as we continue to grow as one of the 海角视频’s biggest training providers.
“The acquisition represents a perfect fit as both organisations share similar learner-centred values, and it presents new, exciting opportunities to our learners and employer partners, adding to our combined breadth of provision.
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“With youth unemployment being at an all-time high due to the impact of Covid-19, this acquisition will allow us to support even more young people into work. I’m excited by the opportunities ahead and look forward to welcoming our new learners to the LCG family.”
Rachel Kayes from Acorn said: “This is a fantastic step for Acorn Training and we are very pleased to have found a great new home at Learning Curve Group who are in a perfect position to take the business forward and support our employers and learners.
“We’re very proud of the impact we have made as we’ve supported individuals with impactful training and Learning Curve Group’s vision to Transform Lives Through Learning is a vision we share. We know that our learners will be well supported as we move through this acquisition.”
All staff at Acorn Training Consultants Ltd will continue their employment with Learning Curve Group, resulting in the expansion of its existing headcount of more than 500 staff.
The acquisition forms part of Learning Curve Group’s growth plans, which also included the acquisition of the London Hairdressing Apprenticeship Academy and its counterpart London Beauty Training Academy earlier this year.
David Marsh, chief executive officer at Babington, added: “We are really pleased to have found such a great home for Acorn with Learning Curve Group, who are one of the best organisations in the 16-18 Education sector. We are very proud of how we have supported and grown Acorn since acquiring it in 2017, supporting many learners across the country.”