In a statement Smart Solutions said that the move followed a strategic review of its business to establish whether Smart Development was the “most effective vehicle” to deliver the “high-quality commercial training” required by its clients.
Smart Development, which was launched by the Newport-based firm in 2012, provided bespoke training and e-learning courses, across a range of business sectors including waste management.
Clients have included Biffa and Cardiff council, according to Smart. Smart Development also ran training courses in waste management for long-term unemployed (see letsrecycle.com story https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/waste-training-courses-helping-unemployed/).
Smart Solutions will continue to provide access to specialist training and work-based learning schemes, delivered via the Sigma Group, the companies said.
All of the current employees from Smart Development have the opportunity to transfer with the business, whilst the 600 existing learners currently enrolled in courses with the Smart Development will be able to continue without interruption to their studies – Smart has said.
Service
Commenting on the deal, Smart Solutions chief executive, Nathan Bowles, said: “We are confident that this is the right decision for Smart Solutions and one that will allow us to focus on our core business of providing flexible, well-managed staff solutions for clients across a wide range of industry sectors. Smart Solutions clients will benefit from the increased variety and coverage of training services that we will be able to offer through the new partnership with Sigma, which will also underpin our strategy of expanding the business into new industry sectors.
“We will be working closely with the team at Sigma to ensure that the transfer of staff and learners is managed as seamlessly as possible, and look forward to developing our working relationship over the months and years to come.”
Brendan Hand, group chief executive of Sigma Group Holdings, added: “Firstly I’d like to welcome the team from Smart Development to the Sigma Group. We look forward to understanding how we can help and support in key areas for our learners and customers.
“Sigma has been working on developing a strategic partnership with Smart Solutions for some months now and it was a natural fit to our business to integrate the Smart Development team, products, services and customers into our business. This will increase the level of service we can deliver to both our existing and new blue chip customer base.”
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