National Britannia buys training specialist

A provider of health, safety and environmental risk management services has expanded its offering after buying a training provider. National Britannia Group, which also provides risk management services, has acquired Corporate Health & Safety Solutions (CHSS).


A provider of health, safety and environmental risk management services has expanded its offering after buying a training provider. National Britannia Group, which also provides risk management services, has acquired Corporate Health & Safety Solutions (CHSS).

A provider of health, safety and environmental risk management services has expanded its offering after buying a training provider. National Britannia Group, which also provides risk management services, has acquired Corporate Health & Safety Solutions (CHSS).

This deal, which is its largest deal to date, takes its forecast turnover to more than £50 million and its number of employees to some 780.

National Britannia’s managing director, Alex Sleeth, said this acquisition is part of the group’s plan to build a £100 million turnover business. “The CHSS acquisition is further evidence of our ability to successfully acquire complementary businesses that significantly enhance our overall service offering.”

Two years ago, National Britannia was bought by private equity firm Lyceum Capital. Lyceum’s managing partner, Jeremy Hand, said the firm is delighted with National Britannia’s performance since 2005 and continue to see huge growth potential in this sector. “This acquisition gives National Britannia access to a vital part of the market and offers an excellent springboard for accelerated growth,” he said.

National Britannia received legal advice on the transaction from M&A Solicitors, while the vendor was supported by Gambit Corporate Finance. The financial due diligence was managed by Deloitte while A.R.K. Business Analysis compiled the commercial due diligence review.

A.R.K., which is a corporate finance research publisher, worked closely with National Britannia’s chairman to advise on the best prospects in each market sector and was able to take the necessary initial steps.

The firms’ team was led by its chief executive David Johnston, who has worked in the health, safety and compliance markets for more than 20 years.

“CHSS and National Britannia are natural partners; both are South Wales based, but more importantly they have a unique cultural fit as energetic achievers outperforming the market overall,” Johnston said.

This is not the last acquisition the company intends to make in a bid to expand its business and is currently assessing several new acquisitions.

National Britannia’s clients include the Health & Safety Executive, Barclays and Carillion as well as food retailers, manufacturers and financial institutions.

CHSS provides professional health, safety and environmental services training to blue chip companies in the UK, in Gulf, Indian subcontinent and the former Russian states.

The company currently trains more than 22,000 delegates each year for companies such as DHL, Rolls Royce, HBoS and AWE.

Marc Barber

Marc Barber

Marc was editor of GrowthBusiness from 2006 to 2010. He specialised in writing about entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital, mid-market M&A, small caps and high-growth businesses.

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