Ex-footballer’s business scores with acquisition of Yorkshire training provider

Training organisation RAH Group, led by managing director and former professional footballer Craig Haley, has acquired Edge Services, of York.

Edge Services, previously owned by Kate and Andy Lovett, is a provider of people handling training in the UK and has provided specialist training across the healthcare, social care, and special educational needs sectors for more than 20 years.

While it is headquartered in York, it has training bases in Glasgow, London, Manchester, Brighton, Cardiff, Exeter, Peterborough, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Oxford.

David Wilson, corporate finance director at Clive Owen LLP, which has offices in York, Darlington and Durham, introduced the deal to Teeside-based RAH and secured a seven-figure investment package to support the group with its ambitious growth plans.

Haley said: “Edge Services is a robust business with a solid track record of delivering the highest quality training to a long-standing customer base across the UK and we plan to build on and further develop that success.

“We aim to support the excellent management and training team within the company and give them the opportunity to further develop and build on their current success and achievements.

“I am indebted to Clive Owen Corporate Finance for providing the support and expertise to help the RAH Group accomplish the successful acquisition of Edge Services.

“The company has a strong order book as well as the potential and ability to expand its training portfolio to deliver new and additional training courses within the healthcare sector and beyond”.

Wilson added: “Kate, Andy and the exceptional management team at Edge have successfully positioned the business as a market leader in the healthcare training sector and it has been my pleasure to work with the team in successfully delivering a deal which is a great fit for all parties.

“Craig is a great example of the hugely ambitious entrepreneurs we work with at Clive Owen, and I look forward to following the RAH Group’s progress as they look to grow and develop Edge and the wider group.”

Haley’s previous experience in the oil and gas sector involved both engineering and training roles for major blue-chip clients.

His past career also included playing for his boyhood club, as a schoolboy at Middlesbrough, then later as a professional footballer for Bolton Wanderers before moving to Singapore to play for Woodlands Wellington.

Daniel Flounders, corporate partner at Archers Law, acted for the RAH Group.

He said: “It was great to assist RAH Group right throughout the process and to be involved from structuring the deal right through to formalising the completion.

“Craig and the RAH Group’s acquisition of Edge Services highlights the fast paced and buoyant M&A market we are currently seeing within the north and the opportunities which are currently out there.”

Martin Frost, corporate partner at Andrew Jackson Solicitors, acted for Edge Services.

He said: “It was a pleasure to be able to assist Kate and Andy on the sale of Edge to RAH. All parties were keen to complete the transaction in a fairly tight timescale.

“I am delighted that by working closely with our clients and David and his team at Clive Owen, and through constructive and proactive discussions with the buyer’s legal team, we were able to deliver on this timescale.”