Acis acquires Riverside Training

GAINSBOROUGH-based training provider Riverside Training has been acquired by social housing provider @AcisGroup.

Acis Group, which owns and manages more than 7,000 homes across the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, has acquired the company from Stallard Kane Associates as it looks to grow its wider employability, skills and training services.

The acquisition follows years of collaborative work between Acis, Riverside Training and Stallard Kane Associates. Looking forward, Stallard Kane Associates will continue to work closely with the two parties in the years ahead as it maintains its integral role in Gainsborough’s development.

Riverside Training will remain its own entity and continue to deliver its current provision, helping people from Gainsborough and the surrounding area pick up the skills and confidence they need to progress in their personal and professional lives.

Courses include accredited qualifications, basic skills such as maths and English, arts and crafts, IT, health and wellbeing.  

The courses and support on offer at Riverside Training will complement existing provision delivered by Acis, which currently runs two employability programmes helping people on their journey towards suitable, sustainable employment.

Current customers should see no disruption in the service they receive, with the acquisition resulting in no job losses and sessions still being run from Market Street in the town.

Greg Bacon, Chief Executive of Acis Group, said:

“This acquisition is a key part in our plans to deliver more for the people in our communities. We have worked alongside Riverside Training for many years and jumped at the chance to play a bigger part in its future when the opportunity came up.

“Our plans for Riverside Training are the latest in our wider investment in Gainsborough – a town where we firmly have our roots. Our work to redevelop sites at Bowling Green Lane and North Parade are progressing well as we look to create opportunities for local people to stay, work and play in Gainsborough.”

Riverside Training was established in 2005 and has been managed by Stallard Kane Associates since 2016.

Faye Bevington, Training Manager at Stallard Kane, said:

“We are delighted to be handing over the reins of Riverside Training to a company with such a strong community emphasis like Acis – we believe they will continue to support Gainsborough by providing quality training to people from all walks of life.

“Whilst operating under the Stallard Kane group of companies we have run over 50 different types of courses, welcomed 2,000 learners through our doors, with many securing employment, and secured thousands of pounds of funding – all to help the people of Gainsborough and the surrounding areas to improve their lives, whether it be by gaining a new qualification, learning a new skill or merely by having somewhere to meet others, have a friendly chat and, hopefully, improve their overall wellbeing.  We wish them all the best for the future and what they are going to be able to offer the people of Gainsborough who require the training and support.”