Birmingham administrators complete sale of BSM

ADMINISTRATORS in Birmingham have successfully sold driving school group The British School of Motoring Ltd after the business fell into administration.

Matthew Hammond and Rob Lewis, of PwC, were appointed joint administrators yesterday.

Immediately following the appointment, the administrators confirmed the sale of the business and its assets, together with BSM Ltd and Scorpio Property Investment Ltd, to Acromas via Automobile Association Developments Ltd.

The sale secures the jobs of almost 300 people, the majority driving instructors.

The acquisition of BSM secures the future of one of the best-known driving schools in the UK.  BSM’s operations will continue without interruption on a business as usual basis, so pupils or instructors currently undertaking or providing lessons have been advised to continue to operate normal lesson arrangements.

BSM is currently in its 100th year of trading, with approximately 2,100 franchised driving instructors across the UK, approximately 30,000 learner drivers, and it also provides training for new instructors.

BSM employs 135 employees at the head office in Bristol, and a further 145 located in 71 network centres located across the UK providing support to the franchised instructors. Following the sale, all current driver franchise agreements and employees will transfer over to the new company. 

Mr Hammond said: “We are very pleased to have been able to complete a sale of the BSM business.   January has been an intensive period of activity as we worked with BSM to explore the options available.

“The sale preserves the BSM brand and its 100 year history, and secures the immediate transfer of employees, driver franchisees, trainees and student drivers to a large, stable and successful company.

“The sale benefits instructors, students and employees and we are delighted to have achieved this.”