BGF-backed education recruitment firm makes first London acquisition

Operam Education Group, an education recruitment specialist backed by BGF, has completed its first acquisition in London. The acquisition of central London-based Horizon Teachers was funded by HSBC, with BGF providing strategic support.

Horizon Teachers is an education recruitment agency supplying teachers and support staff to primary, secondary and SEND schools across London and the South East. The deal, the eighth in Operam’s buy-and-build growth strategy, significantly expands the company’s presence in the South East as it seeks to grow beyond the North and Midlands.

Operam is headquartered in Barnsley, with operations in Liverpool. To date, the company has acquired Provide Education, The Education Specialists, Teachers UK, Key Stage Teacher Supply, First for Education, Bridge Education, and Provision Recruitment.

Operam chief executive Eddie Austin (pictured above) said: "The acquisition of Horizon Teachers represents an important step forward, as the business moves confidently into the next phase of growth. In the last seven years we have established a strong platform that has enabled us to acquire highly complementary businesses that provide us with strength and depth – both from a sector perspective, as well as geographically.”

Austin continued: "In the last 30 years, the sector has grown exponentially. However, the issue of staffing remains a real pain point for our clients in the education sector and one that we are committed to help address. Our supply staff workforce wants choice and flexibility – not only where they work, but the environment in which they work in. We can give them that choice, particularly as we grow the group through strategic acquisitions such as Horizon."

Horizon Teachers was founded in 2008 by Matt Hill and Nancy McDonnell, who said that the deal was an “opportunity to build upon the successes of the Horizon Teachers brand and to fast track the growth of the business.”

BGF investor Rob Johnson said that Operam’s buy-and-build strategy, complemented by strong organic growth, had enabled it to build “an excellent reputation in the market, while implementing robust systems and processes that enable the group to fulfil their growth ambitions.”

Johnson added that the acquisition of Horizon Teachers places Operam on “a strong footing to compete nationally and enable them to work with large education groups as they strive for further growth."

HSBC Relationship Director Ross Mather said that the deal was a “key milestone” for Operam, expanding the company’s geographical reach and enabling it “to support the education ecosystem around London and the home counties.”


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