Mon, 31 Mar 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
PE-backed training provider Realise Training Group has bought Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, for an undisclosed seven figure sum.
It aims to significantly increase the number of gas and air source heat pump engineers undergoing training after completing the deal.
Realise, which is backed by Endless' Enact fund, operates in other regulated markets including Early Years, Health and Social Care and Transport as well as Business Skills and Adult Skills.
Smart Gas was formed in 2016 by departing directors Patrick O’Sullivan and John Grocott and offers air source heat pump, gas, plumbing and heating training, including the Level 3 Gas Engineering Operative Apprenticeship course and ACS GAS accreditations.
Realise has now taken over ownership of the training centre and is planning to use its resources as a major training provider to help grow the Smart Gas offering to new and current engineers in multiple locations across the East Midlands and, in the long term, England.
The move comes after the government announced a £600 million investment into training up to 60,000 skilled construction workers.
“We are planning a sizeable investment in the business – from new systems to a new website and an expansion to the current Ashbourne site – and our medium-term plan is to take this offering further around the East Midlands and provide opportunities for new and existing engineers to upskill and train in multiple geographical locations,” said Gregg Scott, CEO of Realise Training Group. “The ageing demographic of gas engineers is very stark and, with the green revolution and rise of air source heat pumps in full flow, there are both challenges and opportunities facing the industry and the people working in it.”
As well as the acquisition, it has also announced the launch of the Realise Training Group signalling its intent for long-term growth and being a “one-stop-shop for all training solutions in the sectors in which we operate”.
Since securing investment from the Enact Fund in 2020, Realise has achieved strong growth and now has a team of more than 500 staff supporting in excess of 16,500 learners.
The announcement marks the next phase of its journey, as Realise formalises a new group structure and strategy, broadens its commercial offerings and diversifies into another regulated employment sector.
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The acquisition of Smart Gas is its third in as many years.
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