Aberdeen-based training and management consultancy Assurance of Learning has acquired assessment and competence management company ITB Competence Assurance.
While the deal price was not given, it is set to generate more than £600,000 in sales revenue during 2021, with plans to further expand the business.
The acquisition of ITB Competence Assurance, which was formed in 2001 and is also based in Aberdeen, will enable the company to rapidly expand existing services, as well as adding an established digital learning platform.
With an existing portfolio of classroom, virtual and online based learning, the deal meets Assurance of Learning’s ambitions to further digitalise their business.
While the focus of the business is predominantly face-to-face learning, increased international contract wins and the pandemic has necessitated an increase online capabilities.
As part of the transaction, all of ITB’s competence specialists will be appointed to Assurance of Learning, with plans to expand the team further in the next 12 to 18 months in line with new contracts.
The existing Assurance of Learning management team of managing director Duncan Bonner, training director David Christie and director Tijana Berlafa will, with immediate effect, take on similar responsibilities for the ITB Competence Assurance business.
Bonner said: “The existing Assurance and ITB teams have highly complementary skill sets and we aim to cross skill as many of these skills as possible to remain competitive and provide real value to both our customers and the existing customer base of ITB.”
ITB’s former owner Jenny Stokes, who is planning to retire from the sector, said: “I am incredibly happy to be handing over the reins to the hugely experienced team at Assurance of Learning – I am also pleased that the existing ITB team will be retained in the new business.”
The integration of the two businesses is set to be completed by the end of April, with plans to move the operation of both businesses to ITB’s current facilities at Citibase Aberdeen.
Assurance of Learning – founded by David Christie in 2014 and reorganised in July 2020 – is co-owned by energy industry veterans Christie and Bonner, alongside industrial psychologist Berlafa.
The team of consultants provide training and business improvement services in areas such as health and safety, operational efficiency and financial efficiency.
The company has since secured contracts in the energy sector, working with operators, drilling contractors and oil and gas service companies in the North Sea and international markets.
Recent contracts have also included renewables sector operators, service companies and contractors.
