Advocacy provider sold to charity

A CONSULTANCY which represents people with mental health and learning disabilities, has been sold to a charity.

Warrington-based Advocacy Experience, which was set up 10 years ago by entrepreneur Rob Harris, last year worked with more than 1,400 people living in health or social care settings.
 
The business, which has over 30 staff and turnover of around £1m, has been bought by the charity VoiceAbility.

Manchester law firm George Davies and accountants Beever & Struthers advised Rob Harris, sole shareholder of Advocacy Experience, on the deal, which has seen him leave the business.

Harris said: “This will strengthen Advocacy Experience’s position in the market place and provide a wider vision that will ensure our quality is delivered to more people. I look forward to Advocacy Experience working closely with VoiceAbility and developing even better services in the future.”

Based in Cambridge, VoiceAbility, a charity operating in the south, east, Midlands and Yorkshire representing individuals and groups who have mental health problems and learning disabilities. It is now recruiting for a new managing director for Advocacy Experience.

Jonathan Senker, chief executive of VoiceAbility added: “Policy makers rightly emphasise individual choice and control, but set against a background of swingeing cuts, unless there is effective advocacy this just isn’t going to happen for the people who need it most.

“I’m certain that together we can achieve so much more that we could alone.”

The George Davies team was led by corporate partner Scott Sands and included corporate solicitor Charlie Yates and employment lawyer Rachael Mongan.

Sands said: “Rob has built Advocacy Experience up over the last 10 years to become the leading North West provider of specialist advocacy services. It is a result of his hard work that the company has attracted such interest from, and has ultimately been sold to, a national competitor.”