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Charity puts its trust in the North with landmark acquisition

BACKGROUND

Shaw Trust is a £130m national charity providing employment opportunities, skills development training and health and well-being services across the UK.  Being one of the largest charities in the UK, it seeks to transform the lives of young people and adults across the UK and internationally.

The Prospects Group is a Bromley-based £90m turnover, employee-owned provider of skills, education and care and support to a variety of users in different demographics.

The similar and complementary services offered to people across different areas of the UK meant that economies and efficiencies would ensure the sum of the parts would impact an even greater proportion of service users.

BUSINESS NEEDS

Historically Shaw Trust had achieved growth by means of bidding for and winning new contracts in tandem with smaller acquisitions. The Trust recognised the potential complexities of acquiring Prospects and, as such, needed a trusted advisor.

Some of the issues to deal with during the acquisition process included multiple locations, acquiring a business with a wide shareholder base (employee owned), various pension aspects to consider (as a result of public sector contracts) and other matters where the Trustees of Shaw Trust needed comfort.

DTE SOLUTION

DTE worked extremely closely with the Trustee Board, CEO and CFO of Shaw Trust to effect this transaction. Being involved with all transactional decisions gave the Shaw Trust team the confidence to work through an array of complex issues.  DTE provided a senior led approach and attended all critical meetings, including important talks with the pension regulator.

The transaction propelled Shaw Trust into the top twenty five charities by turnover in the UK and is now one of the Government’s lead partners in the delivery of employment programmes for disabled and disadvantaged people.

About Shaw Trust

Leading national charity

  • Sector: third sector
  • Company size: large
  • Location: Bristol, England, UK

About Prospects Group

Provider of tailored education, employment, training, care products and services

  • Sector: educational support activities
  • Company size: SME
  • Location: Bromley, England, UK

“This marks a very special day on our journey to transform the lives of one million young people and adults each year by 2022. We deliver services for a range of government departments and local authorities, and as a charity we add value to every service we deliver by investing back into the communities we serve.

I am delighted that Prospects has joined our Group. We deliver many complementary services and now, together, we can offer an even greater range of support to our customers.”

Roy O'Shaughnessy
Chief Executive, Shaw Trust

“Prospects is excited about joining the Shaw Trust Group. We have a very similar mission and values to Shaw Trust, and the merger of our organisations will enable us to create new opportunities and inspire more young people and adults a year to develop their potential.”

Nick Bell
Chief Executive, Prospects

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