UK: Chiltern Capital has backed a management buy-out of online rail and engineering apprenticeship company Train’d Up Railway Resourcing, with a debt facility provided by alternative lender ThinCats.
Train’d Up supports over 1 300 learners. It was founded in 2003 by David Gillespie and Paul McGlynn, who are now stepping back under their retirement plans. The company will be led by Alan Wilson, who joined as Managing Director in 2022, with apprenticeship business leader Ben Pike to join the board as non-executive Chair.
‘We are incredibly proud of the reputation Train’d Up has built as the largest provider of apprenticeships in the rail sector and we are excited by the momentum we have built in our engineering offering’, Wilson said on June 29. ‘Partnering with Chiltern gives us the strategic support we need to accelerate growth while maintaining our commitment to high-quality delivery and learner outcomes.’
Andrew Reid, Investment Manager at Chiltern Capital, said ‘Train’d Up is a standout provider in the vocational training space, with a clear track record of quality and delivery. We’re delighted to be backing Alan and the team as they continue to scale the business and address critical skills gaps in key sectors of the UK economy.’
