The Citation Group is delighted to announce its acquisition of Avec Partnership, the leading specialist education services company in the North East of England.
Based in Darlington, Avec Partnership comprises a team of education professionals with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by both schools and academies. Many of their team are former local authority employees.
A strategically significant move further into the education sector, together with the education-specific HR and Payroll services provided by Group business EPM, The Citation group now has a market leading Education Services division with an expansive network and sterling reputation across schools and Trusts in the UK.
In addition to EPM’s HR, Payroll and Pensions services, this partnership allows the Group to support clients with Finance, Procurement, Governance and Academy Conversions. With a level of service this extensive, it provides the perfect opportunity for the cross sell of the Group’s existing and well-established Health & Safety and ISO product portfolio.
The Citation Group CEO Chris Morris commented on the acquisition:
“We select the businesses we want to acquire carefully. Not only do they need a solid business model that can be developed with investments in both technology and people, but they need to be the right cultural fit too – employing experts who really care about their customers and colleagues – and who can be proud of the business they work in.
Bringing Avec Partnership on board proves to be the perfect match of both service values and cultural fit. As a business that prides itself on a strong software offering combined with high service standards, Avec Partnership is the ideal addition to our expanding portfolio. I’m excited to welcome them into The Citation Group family.”
Sarah Monk and Julie Sowerby, founding Directors of Avec who will remain with the business, commented:
“When we founded Avec 9 years ago, it was always our vision that at the right time we would need to be part of something bigger where we can impact on a larger scale, providing our outstanding services that we know have such a positive impact on the high quality of education provision and life chances of children and young people.
We have been delighted to have joined The Citation Group in what we feel is the natural next step in the development of Avec and we are both excited and committed to our continued growth and development”