Sovereign backed the MBO of vocational training provider Lifetime, which delivers a wide range of traineeships, apprenticeships and training courses throughout the UK. During the time of Sovereign's partnership Lifetime expanded its service offering and more than doubled its number of learners.
Lifetime is one of the UK's largest vocational training providers, offering pre-employment training, apprenticeship programmes and training courses nationwide, across a wide range of sectors including fitness, hospitality and retail. Established in 1995, Lifetime’s founding principle was to support individuals and businesses to perform better through the delivery of outstanding training programmes.
Heather Frankham, who founded the business, wanted an investment to take the company to the next level. In 2011, Sovereign backed the MBO of Lifetime, enabling Heather to step back in to a non-executive role. Sovereign backed the management team to implement an ambitious Buy & Build strategy, building on Lifetime’s existing capabilities and rolling out their offering into new sectors.
Sovereign supported the business to expand into multiple occupational areas and continue to win new contracts with employers. At exit:
I wanted an opportunity to shape the direction and achievements of a business focused on training. In Lifetime and in Sovereign I found that chance – a great business backed by a highly supportive investor that really understood the market.
Alex Khan / CEO / Lifetime
