The man who has just completed the multi-million-pound sale of his company to a global corporation believes the deal underlines the strength of the professional sector in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Tes Global, which employs over 600 people and has 20 offices around the world including London, Dubai and Hong Kong and, has acquired EduCare, based in Leamington.
The firm – the UK’s leading provider for safeguarding training – was started by Keir McDonald 30 years ago and has delivered in excess of 6 million courses with over 1 million courses in the past 12 months alone.
Tes, which works with 25,000 schools, now hopes to make EduCare courses available to 11 million educators in more than 100 countries.
The deal to acquire EduCare was only started in April and McDonald, who earned an MBE for his services to children, was advised by law firm Wright Hassall and accountants and corporate financiers Burgis & Bullock, both of which are based in Leamington.
Burgis & Bullock helped negotiate the value of the sale as well as the structure of the deal and provided financial due diligence support, while Wright Hassall provided legal advice on sale documentation as well as legal due diligence and property services.
McDonald, a former president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I have worked with Wright Hassall and Burgis & Bullock for a considerable time. Both companies have helped me drive the business forward and I saw no reason to look further afield when this deal came about.
“Both offered invaluable advice, fully comprehended what we wanted to achieve for EduCare with the deal and also worked to have the transaction completed in very short time. I think we are fortunate to have companies of this this calibre on the doorstep.
“Often people tend to look to city firms or very large advisory consultancies with major deals, but we have some top-quality professional firms in our area.”
EduCare, which is based in Warwick Street in the heart of Leamington, employs 50 staff.
Grant Howard, a partner at Burgis & Bullock, which is based 100 metres from the EduCare offices, said: “We have worked with Educare for many years and to see a local company attract a global buyer because of the calibre of work it has developed has been particularly special.
“Both companies provide the very highest level of expertise and customer service and this deal has underlined that.”
Robert Lee, partner and head of corporate at Wright Hassall said: “We have worked with Keir and his team for more than 20 years and to have seen him build and grow a successful company in such an important area as Duty of Care and Child Protection has been a great privilege.”