Private equity-backed skills and development firm Leep Group has acquired Midlands-based vocational training specialist E.Quality Training Limited, marking its entry into training for 16 to 19-year-olds for the first time. The deal will take Leep's annual revenues to approximately £33 million and expand its workforce to around 470 staff.
Acquisition Details
Manchester-headquartered Leep Group, which has been backed by Palatine's Impact Fund since 2020, has completed its fourth acquisition by purchasing Staffordshire's E.Quality Training. The company, founded in 1999 by Robert and Majella Cocks, employs around 30 people including 18 experienced tutors. It delivers Department for Education (DfE)-funded courses in childcare, health and social care, and beauty from training centres in Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford.
Integration and Growth
Following a handover period, E.Quality Training will be integrated into Leep's Back 2 Work division, which provides adult employability and training services. This acquisition allows Leep to expand its reach into the 16-19 training market, specifically targeting young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Luke Muscat, co-founder and CEO of Leep Group, said: "The E.Quality Training team are doing critically important work helping young people who have disengaged from education and have yet to enter employment build their skills and confidence. Often these young people are hard to help and hard to reach."
Strategic Importance
Muscat added: "We look forward to bringing our expertise in delivering training in other disciplines, such as digital, tech, AI and green skills, so that E.Quality can expand its reach and do more to help these young people find their way into work — while also supporting sectors of the economy facing major skills shortages."
James Gregson, Impact Fund partner at Palatine, commented: "This is another attractive and complementary strategic bolt-on for Leep, which not only increases its regional presence in the Midlands but also brings expertise and understanding of the age 16-19 training market, where we see significant growth potential."
Gregson continued: "Most importantly, this latest acquisition will help Leep Group continue to deliver on its mission of powering up potential by transforming lives through skills development and training and making a positive contribution to society."
Advisory Role
The sellers were advised by Lewis Pearson, at accountancy firm DJH.
