WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US

Testimonials

“I have known STC, and particularly Peers Carter, for over 15 years and acquired many schools from him and his colleagues. Despite always being on opposite sides of the negotiating fence, Peers has become a firm friend and has been unfailingly courteous in all our dealings. His integrity and diligence have served his clients extremely well, as he has always strived to achieve the best price within a time scale acceptable to both vendor and buyer. In the education world, this is never an easy balance to strike. I would unhesitatingly recommend Peers to any vendor wishing to transfer their school to any well-funded, serious buyer.”
- P.A., who built the largest corporation of independent schools in Britain.

“I am very relaxed at the moment following the successful transfer of the school to the Trust. As you know I am still a shareholder in the school albeit with a smaller stake than before. The way the transaction was conducted has meant that my new partners and I are on excellent terms having encountered no major problems throughout. As a result we are already planning the future openly and the staff and parents are incredibly positive about the changes. My greatest fear has therefore come to nothing.

Your input in that process was invaluable whilst your comments about the venture capitalists saved us from a grave mistake. Your initial valuation proved to be very accurate and it was interesting seeing the way the other professionals went about their job before validating much of what you had already told them! I would be delighted for you to give my name to potential sellers if they wish to hear first hand about my experiences and to tell them about the joy once everything is signed!”
– S.T., Former Chairman of IAPS

“We did not want to sell to a company which appeared to have an exit strategy in place. Our priority was to pass our long-established family school into sympathetic hands – people who would be committed to the wellbeing of the school for the indefinite future. STC introduced us to a number of buyers and helped us to arrange discreet visits. One turned out to be a perfect fit. The result was an excellent outcome for our family, our school and our eventual buyer. Throughout the process, not a whisper escaped.”
– R&CB

“I am writing to thank you and your team at STC for organising the sale of my school. From our first meeting, I had the utmost confidence in you and I felt that I was receiving the appropriate advice and guidance at every step of the way towards selling my school. You were always calm, positive and cheerful, which helped me enormously. Most importantly, confidentiality was maintained at all times and your office staff members were always helpful and prompt in their dealings with me.

The process of selling a school, which one has nurtured and loved for many years, is always a difficult decision to make, even when the time is right. STC has made that process as smooth and stress-free as possible and I would be happy to recommend STC to other owners of schools. The changeover at the school seems to have been relatively calm and I am already thoroughly enjoying my retirement.

A week after I sold my school, I opened my wardrobes and gazed at my 'school uniform' - suits for all occasions! I promptly took them all out and delivered them to Oxfam! It was a marvellous feeling!”
- JW

“As soon as I contacted them I was highly impressed with their great knowledge in this field, professionalism and good humour.

Very quickly a new purchaser was found for my school, and the sale drew to a swift conclusion. STC were always on hand to answer my questions with sensible and practical advice.

I highly recommend the services of STC to anyone seeking to either buy or sell a school.”

C C

“Your cheerful and friendly team have guided the sale, given advice and plenty of reassurance to a first time, strong-willed but slightly nervous owner. You were persistent over the year with the prospective new owners. You found very suitable potential buyers and maintained confidentiality (very important!) throughout – giving me advice on how to handle the many facets of the sale.

I would be more than happy to recommend the services of STC to other school owners.”

K W

“We have now both purchased and sold schools through your company – STC – and therefore I feel we are in quite a strong position to advise anyone about to embark on the very delicate business of ‘school transfer’ to look no further that STC to guide them through what otherwise could become a minefield and a very daunting experience.

Thanks to your integrity and wise counsel we have managed to avoid the pitfalls and, without exception, transactions have always been conducted in a thoroughly professional manner.”

B C

“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you ….

We were absolutely delighted with the service we received from STC, it was nice to be involved with an efficient, yet friendly company in the sale of our nursery. You continued the ethos which we felt we had built into our business.

We were also pleased at the price we achieved and how easily you made the sale progress, with no time wasters and only financially able prospects speaking to us.

We cannot over-praise the level of discretion which you achieved for us. In fact no one knew - even our children! - until we told them four days after exchange of contracts.”

M & L M (retired)

“From the outset I was confident of your advice and at each stage help was readily available. The transaction was accomplished without major problems and confidentiality was maintained at every stage. I am happy to recommend the services of STC to others.”

E L M

“We appointed STC to act on our behalf in identifying and introducing potentially interested parties. We had met with another company purporting to offer the same service and concluded that STC were more likely to be able to deliver. We were not disappointed. STC displayed a ready understanding of the school and an appreciation of what we were trying to achieve. They quickly generated a shortlist of candidates and arranged inspections and meetings, all on a totally confidential basis. I am delighted to say that the process culminated in the successful merger of the school with another much larger educational charity, thus accomplishing exactly what we had set out to do.”

C A

“You advised us on a very good selling price for the nursery and we were very pleased that you obtained that price for us. The confidentiality of the sale proceedings was first class, and your negotiating skills were impressive.”

G & M B

“We thank you very much indeed for the energy, tact, business acumen and flair that you employed in arranging the transfer. The sale was successfully completed within 12 months of the initial instruction, just as STC had anticipated.

Throughout, STC acted in a most professional, diligent and considerate manner and I was delighted with the outcome.”

M M

“Many thanks for your persistence in bringing the two sides together – a marriage which I think will work out well for both families – and I enclose a cheque for your modest invoice almost with pleasure.”

P W

“Now that the school has well and truly passed to new owners, we wish to thank you for your help and calmness during what became a complex and protracted sale.

We were pleased you were only a telephone call away and that you and your staff were very supportive and able to deal with our queries.

Most of all, we appreciated your valuation of the business which was a surprise to us and was proved to be correct.”

D T

“Throughout the whole process STC acted with the utmost integrity and in an extremely professional manner. During the process of the rather drawn out negotiations STC demonstrated considerable flexibility and understanding. It is true to say that STC's intervention with one of our lending institutions in matters relating to the valuation of schools was a key factor in the success of the transfer.

It is with these experiences of professional dealings with the team in mind that I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending STC to any prospective vendor or indeed purchaser of a school.”

M H

“You and your team handled everything quite splendidly. Your approach was at all times prompt, professional and efficient. I was quickly reassured by the attentive and discreet way that everything was managed and the advice I received from you was always spot on.

The whole sale went through really smoothly. Please pass on my sincere thanks to everybody.”

L C

“PC has been a great help in everything he has done to facilitate the transaction. He has negotiated a decent price, he has ‘held my hand’ in anxious situations and has ever been available for help and advice. As I said to him, “Peers, you have definitely earned your colours!”.

R G

“I would like to thank you and the STC team for your help in getting the deal through successfully from initial briefing to completion. You were all a pleasure to work with, always helpful and enthusiastic, and provided us with a good stream of potential purchasers.”

R M M

“A huge thank you for selling our nursery. We really could not believe how quick and painless the process was. The sale went through with complete confidentiality. This really was a huge worry for us after a previous unfortunate experience.

We came to you quite neurotic from our dealings with two other agents. Having had the experience of the other agents we realised that you were an exception and can honestly say that my dealings with you were enjoyable.

You were always totally reliable, both ringing and doing what and when you said you would. I was always kept up to date and enjoyed our chats. I was treated in a friendly, informal yet professional manner.

It has been a pleasure using your services and I would be happy to reassure potential customers of any worries that they may have.”

P & P R