Member Article

Gateshead training provider grows with acquisition

Gateshead’s Access Training has expanded with the acquisition of Durham Training.

The move will allow Access Training to expand business in the south of the region, as the firm takes control of Durham Training’s Chester-le-Street base and 10 staff.

Durham Training is currently an arm of Durham Business Group (DBG), and the buyout will allow the company to focus on its business network.

Access Training owner and managing director, Malcolm Armstrong, said: “We have worked closely with Durham Training over the last 18 months on a number of projects so we are fully aware of how they operate.

“We have synergies in our approach to quality and customer care and the acquisition of the business is key to achieving the objectives of our business plan. The purchase will give us wider geographical coverage, great opportunities for our employees and will allow us to increase our market share in the region.”

Malcolm is chairman of professional body Northumbria Learning Providers, which represents 50 training firms and lobbies on further education policy.

Access Training was founded in 1999 following the management buyout of English Estates YTS, and has since gone on to employ 20 staff.

Managing director of Durham Business Group, Christine Yule, added: “We’ve enjoyed a very successful partnership with Access Training and formally joining the organisations was a natural next step. Access has taken over a well respected and high performing training provider and, with their undoubted expertise in the field, I am sure they will take it to an even higher level. We wish them every success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .