Enact portfolio business Realise Training continues growth strategy with latest acquisition

Realise Training, the MBO supported by private equity investor Enact in October 2020 has acquired Training Plus Merseyside (TPM). This independent training provider delivers apprenticeships and training to more than 100 employers in the Liverpool City Region.  The acquisition of TPM is the second acquisition Realise has completed in the last 4 weeks after also acquiring FW Solutions.

Realise became a standalone business two years ago when Enact provided funding to support a management buyout. It delivers apprenticeships at Level Two, Three and Five to hundreds of early years settings and more than 1,000 learners across the UK and was voted Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the prestigious FE Week & AELP Apprenticeship Awards earlier this year.

Gregg Scott, Managing Director of Realise, said: “The early years sector has been identified as a key growth area and to complete two acquisitions in quick succession is extremely pleasing.  For more than two decades, Brian and Paula have been instrumental in the growth and success in TPM and we are thrilled to be trusted with continuing their outstanding work and excited to work with their learners, staff and stakeholders.  The investment from Enact has been key to us developing the business, acquisitions such as this will help us deliver on our pledge to become the largest early years training provider in the UK and we have ambitious plans to continue our growth as a business through both organic and inorganic growth.”

TPM directors Brian Quinn and Paula Hayes have stepped down from their roles but all other staff and trainers from the company will continue with Realise. Departing TPM director Brian Quinn said: “We have been immensely proud to have delivered training to so many learners over the last 22 years and build a reputation as a well-established and successful learning organisation.  The time has come for myself and Paula to embrace semi-retirement but we are delighted to leave TPM, our learners and staff in such excellent hands.  The vision Realise has of supporting employers to meet their needs by offering tailored training solutions is in line with the way we have grown TPM and Realise is also renowned for creating an excellent working culture and treating its people well.  It is fitting that the people of TPM can now continue their growth alongside a provider with a truly national presence and a high quality reputation. “

Paul Denvers, Investment Director at Enact, said: “Realise continues to deliver on its growth strategy and to complete two acquisitions in four weeks is testament to the hard work of the management team.  It also demonstrates Realise’s commitment to an inorganic growth strategy in a market where it is recognised as a “good home” for learning providers.  Acquiring an established and successful business such as TPM, as was also the case with the acquisition of FW Solutions, supports Realise’s growth strategy in the key sector of early years education.  We are thrilled to be supporting a business which is delivering on its expansion plans and while we are actively looking for further acquisition opportunities, the key focus for Realise will always be retaining a quality learner experience and supporting its people.”