Social housing provider snaps up training group

Lincolnshire-based training provider Riverside Training has been bought by social housing provider Acis Group.

Acis Group, which owns and manages more than 7,000 homes across the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, has acquired the Gainsborough-based company from Stallard Kane Associates as it looks to grow its wider employability, skills and training services.

The acquisition follows years of collaborative work between Acis, Riverside Training and Stallard Kane Associates. Stallard Kane Associates says it will continue to work closely with the two parties.

Riverside Training will retain its own identity, with no job cuts being made.

Greg Bacon, chief executive of Acis Group, said: “This acquisition is a key part in our plans to deliver more for the people in our communities. We have worked alongside Riverside Training for many years and jumped at the chance to play a bigger part in its future when the opportunity came up.

“Our plans for Riverside Training are the latest in our wider investment in Gainsborough – a town where we firmly have our roots. Our work to redevelop sites at Bowling Green Lane and North Parade are progressing well as we look to create opportunities for local people to stay, work and play in Gainsborough.”

Riverside Training was established in 2005 and has been managed by Stallard Kane Associates since 2016.

Faye Bevington, training manager at Stallard Kane, said: “We are delighted to be handing over the reins of Riverside Training to a company with such a strong community emphasis like Acis – we believe they will continue to support Gainsborough by providing quality training to people from all walks of life.

“Whilst operating under the Stallard Kane group of companies we have run over 50 different types of courses, welcomed 2,000 learners through our doors, with many securing employment, and secured thousands of pounds of funding – all to help the people of Gainsborough and the surrounding areas to improve their lives, whether it be by gaining a new qualification, learning a new skill or merely by having somewhere to meet others, have a friendly chat and, hopefully, improve their overall wellbeing.

“We wish them all the best for the future and what they are going to be able to offer the people of Gainsborough who require the training and support.”