Swindon veterinary education company completes MBO

Equity investment company RJD Partners has backed the management buyout of Swindon-based Improve International Limited a global provider of continuing education to the veterinary sector.

Improve provides  specialist postgraduate courses and qualifications as well as continuing professional development training to veterinary professionals. Its key programmes are structured on a modular basis comprising both face to face practical and classroom learning as well as online delivery.

The company launched in 1998. By 2007 it has opened an office in Portugal and began offering courses  in Norway and Italy, the following year.

It established a training headquarters outside Swindon, comprising lecture rooms and wet-lab facilities, allowing delegates to practise surgical procedures to complement their theoretical study.

In 2014, Improve won a government contract to carry out Official Veterinarian (OV) training and assurance on behalf of the government’s Animal Plant and Health Agency, across England, Scotland and Wales. Involved creating database for OVs and setting up 10 new qualifications / online courses to cover all aspects of OV work.

2015 saw the business being bought by Benchmark Holdings plc, a market leader in sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and animal health.

The latest company accounts registered at company house, show that Improve International turn over more than £4 million at the year ended September 2018.

RJD has taken a majority stake in the business investing alongside Improve’s management team led by Chief Executive, Heber Alves and original founder David Babington. The team has overseen impressive growth both domestically and overseas. Training is delivered directly in eight countries and through license partners in a further six. Its fully online distance learning propositions reach a global audience.

RJD will work closely with the Company to develop its customer propositions, including its digital delivery, and build an infrastructure to support further international growth both organically and via acquisition.

This is the third Education & Training investment from RJD’s third buyout fund and continues our successful track record in this sector.

Frank Bulman, Emily Henderson and Richard Caston worked on the investment for RJD and Frank and Emily will be joining the board of Improve.