Strategic acquisition for communications group as it targets growth

Leeds-headquartered communications specialist, Bailie Group, has made its latest strategic acquisition for an undisclosed sum, as the £50m company aims for 60% growth over the next three years.

The purchase of training provider Ubi-Tech (3R) complements the services offered by Bailie Group’s existing CDS Defence & Security business – an organisation focusing on engineering, learning, cyber security, and information assurance.

Established in 2012, Redditch-based Ubi-Tech (3R) offers telecommunications-industry training. It was founded by former members of the British Armed Forces, and all the firm’s instructors have served in the military.

This is the first acquisition specifically for CDS DS. The move represents the brand’s ambitions to grow from £12.5m turnover in 2021 to £20m by the end of 2024.

CDS DS specialises particularly in the development of defence and security clients’ operational effectiveness, people performance and risk reduction.

While Ubi-Tech (3R) and CDS DS will both remain separate entities, the two firms have worked together closely in recent years.

Bailie Group CEO, Fergus Bailie, said: “CDS DS is no stranger to high-profile programmes of work for UK military operations, and in recent times we have collaborated with Ubi-Tech on a number of projects – notably for the British Army.

“The more we’ve worked alongside each other, the clearer our synergies have become – particularly when it comes to the design, analysis and delivery of specialist training.

“While a significant proportion of Bailie Group’s growth has been organic throughout our 158-year history, we recognise the value of strategic acquisitions too.

“While operationally it’s therefore ‘business as usual’ for Ubi-Tech (3R) and CDS DS, we believe the move has unlocked a wealth of potential for both brands.”

Bailie Group currently employs 375 colleagues, but wants to bring 75 additional people into the company by the end of 2022.

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