Leep Group has been backed by Palatine’s Impact Fund since 2020
E.Quality Training Limited, which helps 16 to 19-year-olds who are not currently in education, employment or training(Image: Getty Images)
A private equity-backed skills and development firm has acquired a Midlands vocational training specialist in a move that will see it start working with 16 to 19-year-olds for the first time.
Manchester’s Leep Group won the backing of Palatine’s Impact Fund in 2020 and had already made three acquisitions. It has now acquired Staffordshire ’s E.Quality Training Limited, which helps 16 to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to find work.
E.Quality Training was founded in 1999 by Robert and Majella Cocks and today employs around 30 people, including 18 experienced tutors. It runs Department for Education (DfE)-funded courses in childcare, health and social care, and beauty, from training centres in Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford.
After a handover period, Following a period of handover, E.Quality Training will be integrated into Leep’s Back 2 Work division that delivers adult employability and training services. The deal will take Leep’s annual revenues to around £33m, with some 470 staff.
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.
“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 added: “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.
“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.”
The sellers were advised by Lewis Pearson, at accountancy firm DJH.
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