Loch Associates targets major expansion plans by acquiring Sightscreen HR

By Nicky Godding

22 August 2023

Share

The Business Magazine article image for: Loch Associates targets major expansion plans by acquiring Sightscreen HR

Ben Holt and Pam Loch

Loch Associates Group, a South East multi-service law and HR business, has hit the acquisition trail by acquiring Tunbridge Wells based Sightscreen, an HR, training and coaching specialist operating across the South East.

The announcement follows the Group’s plans to grow its rapidly expanding HR business after witnessing continued growth and doubling turnover and its team over the past three years.

The acquisition of Kent-headquartered Sightscreen HR, owned by human resource specialist and Managing Director Ben Holt, adds professional coaching and leadership training services to Loch HR’s offering and is expected to increase its turnover by 20 per cent.

Sightscreen HR, which has prestigious clients including the National Portrait Gallery, covers a range of consultancy services for businesses, supporting strategy, restructuring and policy changes, as well as management and leadership training, to recruitment and managing disciplinaries and grievances.

The transaction marks Loch Associate Group’s first acquisition since the business was founded in 2007. The business is planning to establish itself as one of the leading HR businesses in the South East and is actively looking for further HR companies to acquire in Kent, Sussex and London.

Pam Loch, Solicitor and Managing Director of Loch Associates Group, said: “Market demand has driven this acquisition as we are seeing an increasing requirement for specialist HR advice and support.

“The acquisition of Sightscreen will further enhance the HR, training and wellbeing services we deliver alongside our existing legal services through our expert teams. This year has seen strong and steady growth for Loch Associates Group and the acquisition and appointment of Ben are a key part of our growth strategy over the next 12 months, as we continue to expand and look for further acquisitions,” adds Pam.

To support the firm’s ongoing growth, Ben Holt has been appointed as Managing Director of Loch HR and Loch Training and Wellbeing, bringing 20 years of experience in HR and Leadership to Loch Associates Group.

Ben said: “Both companies have a shared vision in the level of service we want to provide for our clients – so it made perfect sense to align our HR expertise into one proposition that offers more. These measures will ensure we capitalise on that growth and continue to attract new clients.

“By combining Sightscreen HR’s leadership coaching and consultancy with Loch Associate Group’s expert combination of legal and HR support, we will deliver an even more unique and industry-leading service for UK businesses."

Loch Associates Group acquired Sightscreen HR for an undisclosed amount.

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.