AK Teaching founder Anthony Kirtley says Zen Educate’s investment will help the business grow
From left: Matthew Walsh from Muckle LLP, Slava Kremerman from Zen Educate, Anthony Kirtley and Jonny Greener from AK Teaching and Sam Shield from RGCF.(Image: RGCF)
Education recruitment firm AK Teaching has been acquired by national operator Zen Educate in a deal that will retain its management team.
The Sunderland-based business, which has offices in Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds, has become part of the £13m revenue, technology-driven group which provides a platform for teachers and teaching assistants to find work in schools. The undisclosed deal will see AK’s senior team, including founder Anthony Kirtley, remain in post with investment and infrastructure support from Zen.
Since launching in 2012, AK has become a supplier of full and part-time teaching and support staff, including teachers, early years practitioners, nursery nurses and teaching assistants to primary, secondary and SEND schools. In 2023 the business expanded its Sunderland head office into the City Hall building.
The acquisition is said to have strengthened Zen’s presence in the North, complementing bases across the country, including two in the North East. The firm also works with clients in the US and has raised more than $70m (£50.7m) since 2024 to support its expansion.
Mr Kirtley, who is also managing director of AK Teaching, said: “Over the past 13 years we’ve built AK Teaching into a trusted partner for schools and candidates across the North, thanks to the dedication of our team and the strong relationships we’ve formed with the education community. Joining Zen Educate marks the start of an exciting next chapter.
“Their investment, technology and vision will help us enhance the service we provide to schools and continue our growth, while staying true to the values that got us here.”
Slava Kremerman, CEO of Zen Educate, said: “Our ambition is to continue expanding across the UK and internationally through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions where there is a strong values alignment to do right by the education sector. AK Teaching is a fantastic addition to the Zen Educate family, it’s a well-established business with an excellent reputation, strong regional presence and a team that shares our commitment to supporting schools, educators and pupils.
“Together, we can drive complementary growth and make an even greater impact across the education sector.”
Newcastle-based RG Corporate Finance (RGCF) advised AK’s shareholders and was led by partner and head of corporate finance, Carl Swansbury, along with corporate finance senior manager Sam Shield and corporate finance executive Andy Alexander. Legal advice for AK came from Muckle LLP and Stephanie Brown, Matthew Walsh, Lucy Dougall, Atif Salim and Abi Chorlton-Wilson.
Zen Educate received legal advice from Trethowans, led by Lucy Gleisner and Amrita Sangha, with financial and tax due diligence provided by Wilson Partners’ Tom Bradbury and Lucas Humphries.
Carl Swansbury, partner and head of corporate finance at RGCF, added: “AK Teaching is a North East success story, a business that has grown consistently, built strong relationships with schools and candidates, and become an attractive acquisition for a highly ambitious international group. This transaction demonstrates the strength and potential of high-performing regional businesses in the human capital sector, as well as Zen Educate’s ambition to invest and scale across their business across key locations.
“It also builds on RGCF’s strong track record in recruitment M&A, advising on acquisitions, disposals and growth transactions across the wider human capital sector. We wish the combined AK Teaching and Zen teams the very best for the coming months, as the group continues to scale in the North East and further afield.”
