Arco buys Cheshire health and safety business

A COMPANY providing specialist confined space health and safety education and support to some of Europe’s largest companies, including 19 of the FTSE100, has been sold.

Hull-based Arco has bought Confined Space Training Services, whose customers include the Ministry of Defence, London Underground, Heathrow Airport and United Utilities, for an undisclosed sum.

 

Arco is the UK’s leading safety company, which distributes products, training and expert advice. It has annual sales of nearly £268m and employs approximately 1,600 people.

 

The deal will allow Arco to further expand its training and consultancy offer, enhancing its confined space proposition to include training, consultancy, rescue, equipment sale and hire and maintenance.

CSTS, which has training facilities in Enfield and Crawley as well as its headquarters at Warrington Business Park, was advised by Baker Tilly.

 

Gordon Lyon, managing director of CSTS, said: “Being part of the Arco family means that our customers can now benefit from having access to Arco’s complete range of workplace safety products and services and we look forward to working with Arco’s customers to deliver our training services and expertise in critical areas of health and safety.”

 

Baker Tilly’s corporate finance team was led by partner John Gillibrand and Rikesh Patel.

 

Mr Gillibrand said: “‘We were delighted to advise CSTS on a deal that will be of significant benefit to both businesses and their customers.

 

“Both firms have an excellent reputation within their field, and this deal will allow them to expand their services and build on each other’s experience to make them a stronger player within the health and safety sector.”