Operam Education Group, an education recruitment specialist funded by BGF (Business Growth Fund), has made its first acquisition in London by acquiring Horizon Teachers. This acquisition was financed by HSBC, with strategic backing from BGF.
Horizon Teachers is a recruitment agency that supplies teachers and support staff to primary, secondary, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools across London and the South East. This acquisition is the eighth as part of Operam’s buy-and-build growth strategy and significantly increases its presence in the South East, as the company looks to expand beyond the North and Midlands. Founded in 2008 by Matt Hill and Nancy McDonnell, it not only introduces teachers to job opportunities but also provides free training sessions and CPD courses. They 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.”
Headquartered in Barnsley, with operations in Liverpool, Operam has previously acquired Provide Education, The Education Specialists, Teachers UK, Key Stage Teacher Supply, First for Education, Bridge Education, and Provision Recruitment. The company was founded in 2017 by resourcing specialists Eddie Austin and Andrew Frome.
Operam’s Chief Executive Eddie Austin 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. 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.”