| | | CC104 -RELOCATABLE- £ 125,000-TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY SPECIALISING IN MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION | | | BUSINESS FOR SALE ADVERT DETAILS ADVERT VIEWED : 29,398 TIME(S)
BUSINESS REFERENCE : CC104 / RightBiz | | | | | | Training and Development Company Specialising in Management Development, Leadership and Communication Ref.CC104 Location Relocatable Asking Price £ 125,000 | | | BUSINESS LOCATION: | Undisclosed East Sussex UNITED KINGDOM | | BUSINESS SECTOR: | Services | | TRADE TYPE: | Other | | SALE: | Agent Sale | LEASEHOLD: | £125000 | | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS DETAILS: | Business profile:
Established for fourteen years and originally launched with a highly innovative approach to IT training this business soon developed to become a leading provider of management development, leadership and communication training.
This business has deliberately adopted an unconventional approach to the delivery of its training courses. Every course is bespoke – the business works very closely with its Clients to design materials and course content to suit the particular needs and culture of their organisation – but perhaps more importantly based around engagement – a core philosophy of the business in which evrything it does right down to its systems and procedures are all designed to generate a smile. This quirky, Client-centric approach has resulted in this business developing a firm following – a many and varied, loyal customer base of Clients, the majority of which come from the private sector and include some of the biggest names in their industries. Public sector Clients have included leading government departments, The Metropolitan Police, leading universities and local councils – with courses being run both in the UK and abroad.
Using the core learning technologies that come under the field of Brain-Based and Accelerated Learning – in which it is particularly strong, this business designs and delivers its training using an extensive panel of carefully chosen Key Associates – all specialist practitioners able to bring their own approach to their particular subject area. Areas frequently in demand include Action Learning – group coaching for problem solving, all areas of leadership skills, Emotional Intelligence incorporating emotions and behaviours at work for teams and Motivation. The business has also developed a number of core products for which it is particularly well known including a two day ‘Train the Trainer’ course – which is sometimes run on an open basis, as well as courses on Presentation Skills and Leadership workshops to name just a few – all drawing on the best learning theories to produce stimulating, engaging and above all effective experiences tailored to the specific needs of the Client.
This business delivers a very high level of customer satisfaction and as a result enjoys high levels of repeat business and strong word of mouth recommendation. With low overheads – it operates from serviced offices and all of its Associates are self-employed, it is a very well managed and easy to run operation. With turnover for the financial year ending March 2008 of approximately £125,000 and historically gross margins of between 50% and 70%, this represents an excellent acquisition opportunity for an existing operator to extend their presence in the management development, leadership and communication arena – or for an individual training consultant who is comfortable with a non standard approach to training to acquire an established business in the sector.
Key strengths:
This is a very well established business. With a strong, recognisable corporate identity clearly reflecting its core value of learning through participation and enjoyment the business benefits from high levels of awareness from within the training and development sector. Unconventional, the business stands out from the pack of mainstream training and development businesses delivering similar courses in a standard way. Its training, delivered in an off beat, non standard way captures the imagination and emotion of course delegates ensuring effective courses which achieve their objectives of imparting new knowledge, skills, and attitudes to bring about behaviour change.
Over the many years of its operation this business has deservedly earned an excellent reputation for delivering high quality bespoke courses. It has access to a very strong panel of Associates each of whom is a leading practitioner within their key subject area. By only ever working in their own areas of expertise and delivering their own content within the overall framework of the Client’s requirements, the Associates bring their own talents and skills to bear, projecting a sense of confidence in their own capabilities which easily transfers to course delegates which in turn instills a level of confidence in them that their personal course objectives can be achieved. Not surprisingly the business enjoys strong word of mouth recommendation from a varied, loyal customer base and high levels of referrals from those that have attended courses previously delivered by the business.
Operating from serviced offices and by employing only freelance Associates with courses delivered at its Client’s premises, this business has low overheads and enjoys high margins from strong, durable income streams.
Key opportunities:
There is an outstanding opportunity to build on the existing services and customer base of this business. With a strong demand for its training and development services combined with a capacity to increase turnover, a new owner contributing fresh ideas and investment in resources, particularly in the areas of sales and marketing will have every advantage of building on an excellent platform.
This business has throughout its many years of operation built a large database of existing and prospect customers that are very responsive to marketing. Investment in marketing to this database – either directly or through exhibitions, advertising in trade publications such as Personnel Today, for example, coupled with an increase in managerial resources to cope with an increased uptake would significantly impact on turnover and profitability.
Premises:
This business is currently run from serviced offices and as such can easily be relocated.
Marketing and advertising:
With limited marketing resources available, the business has most recently concentrated its marketing efforts on e-mail marketing to its extensive database of key contacts in organisations that have previously expressed interest in the training and development provided by this business. It prepares case study based newsletters, has in the past advertised in the major trade publications and trade directories as well as exhibited and presented free ‘experience the training’ workshops at major training exhibitions in the UK. One of its most effective promotional tactics is the offer of free taster sessions to key personnel within target Client companies. For open courses that it runs twice a year the business will undertake direct mailing programmes.
The busines also has a very well designed website, in keeping with its strong and memorable corporate identity, which performs very well in all of the major search engnies for all appropriate search terms.
By far its most cost effective marketing however is the strong word of mouth recommendation the business enjoys – testimony to its effectiveness in delivering its training courses.
Financial profile:
The business is offered for sale as a going concern. All financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and the interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.
Turnover for the financial year ending March 2008 was approximately £124,000. Historically gross profits have been between 50% and 70%.
The Asking Price of £125,000 is for a sale of the assets and goodwill in the business.
Employees:
The Managing Director/Owner is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the business. The courses are run by a carefully selected panel of key Associates, only introduced to the process once a Client is on board, working on a sub-contract basis.
Support and training:
The current owner will provide full business familiarization, training and handover to ensure a smooth transfer of the business to new Owners.
Reason for sale:
Having established the business over a 14 year period, the Owner, soon to take maternity leave, believes the time is right to pass it on to new Owners to build on the excellent foundations already laid. | | | | | | FOR SALE | | | | | SELLER: | TURNER BUTLER | | CONTACT: | 01895 25 6000 | | REFERENCE: | CC104 / RightBiz | | ENQUIRIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
