Orange

FRUSTRATION!

August 5th, 2011

We share the frustration of two of our vendors!

Why do buyers of language schools and international colleges all want only the ones in the South of England and London?  Why won’t they consider the excellent ones up North?  Northern colleges are often not only better value – but better. 

For example, we have a Northern college, leasehold, which is of high quality but run by a charming fellow who has discovered he doesn’t enjoy running his own business – happy to stay on as an employee though, because he loves teaching!  How much does he want?

Just £200,000.

And we have a large college whose Director of Studies will also stay on board, in the posh, Georgian North - frankly a much more elegant and attractive environment than most of London – at only £750,000.

You can get there and back easily by train – why not venture North?

Posted in Education, International Schools, Schools

We are being asked to sell an ever wider range of Educational Businesses worldwide

August 2nd, 2011

We are being asked to sell an ever wider range of Educational Businesses worldwide – it’s all very refreshing and exciting.  Educational businesses in the UK – from Prep Schools to Sixth Form Colleges, from International Colleges to Language Schools, from Consultancies to Educational Aids – are in major worldwide demand now.

Enquiries this month have come from most corners of the globe.

Indeed, the great majority of our enquiries now come from outside the UK.  The world has woken up to the fact that there are few countries more stable, more enterprising and more interesting than Britain and the UK has become a haven for international investment.

34% of London property is currently bought by international, non-UK investors.

Of particular note is the strong interest from universities in the Far and Middle East and the former Soviet bloc states in acquiring university campuses and forging academic links in England, Scotland and Wales.

Posted in Education, International Schools, Schools, Special Schools

What’s new, Pussycat?

July 5th, 2011

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!  Some very interesting and attractive businesses have come sidling up to our door looking for strong, decisive buyers.  Here is just a sample:

- Truly outstanding Dyslexia/SEN/Autism spectrum school.  Home Counties.  Convenient for London.  Ill health forces sale.  Excellent location and facilities.  Owner will facilitate handover.  Secure long leasehold.  Offers over £450,000 for quick sale. [Ref: B9222]

- Top quality, friendly UKBA Highly Trusted Language School in the Prosperous North serving over 30 nationalities.  Long established.  Sale for retirement.  Current management happy to stay.  Good secure leaseholds.  Excellent facilities and ambience.  Good, reliable, rising profits.  Offers over £750,000.  [Ref: B9220]

 - Small private language school in modest, convenient leasehold premises in W. London. £50,000.  [Ref: B9221]

- Large national nursery group with registration for over 800.  Loss-making overall but some very large nurseries and some profitable.  Mostly leasehold but at least £850,000 of freeholds.  Offers over £1,000,000 for quick sale.  [Ref: N0243]

- It’s not often we can offer a really good, traditional school in a City Centre.  This one has a good academic reputation, a very good Head who will stay, a lovely building and all-weather playground.  The school is loved and respected locally – and has been for well over 100 years.  Offers in excess of £1,800,000.  [Ref: B9224]

- Very good Northern language school with high standards and good credentials.  Business improving after tough recession and new UK controls.  Owner says he is a committed teacher but not a great businessman – happy to remain with a good business partner.  Offers around £200,000.  [Ref: B9226]

- Large, long-established, Central London UKBA Highly Trusted Language School with outstanding facilities and location.  Not currently profitable but should be.  Large freehold available or lease available.  Discussion and offers.  [Ref: B9219]

We are selling an exceptional large family school with generous grounds, a beautiful location and superb facilities (you name it) and a fine, long-standing academic reputation.  Reason for sale is retirement.  No rush – they will only sell to people they respect and trust.  Strong competition but profits holding up well.  Offers in excess of £5,000,000.  [Ref: B9216]

Posted in Education, International Schools, Schools, Special Schools

ISA Presentation by Robyn Steward about Asperger’s Syndrome

May 18th, 2011

The Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) Conference in Bristol was very good this year.  For us, perhaps the most memorable highlight was the presentation by Robyn Steward.

Robyn is a remarkable and funny young woman – who has Asperger’s Syndrome and nine other medical conditions.  We learned so much from her about how it feels to have Asperger’s or Autism and she gave us some priceless strategies for communication, education and support.  She also pointed out that Einstein and Bill Gates have the same kind of mind as she has.

A brilliant young woman – we were greatly charmed.  There was a storm of applause.

So find time to click on to www.robynsteward.com.

 Our teachers and SEN support are excited at meeting Robyn Steward next Spring.

Posted in Education, Schools, Special Schools

Nursery fees: yet another silly decision

April 6th, 2011

After the shortest possible time, the Coalition’s new childcare minister has announced what was clearly a foregone decision – which is that she is going to do nothing at all.

Nurseries currently have either to opt out of the ‘Free Funding’ voucher scheme.  Or accept it and lose money on every session they offer.

To top up fees is illegal and subject to fines of £50,000,000 or something. 

Result?  The government trumpets its street-cred support for ‘hard-working families’ whilst smaller nurseries in poorer areas (the very people they need on their side) go BROKE. 

How pathetic.

Posted in Education, Schools

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Where can I get advice about running an independent school or college?

There are several independent consultants who can help you understand the workings of the independent educational sector. We know most of them and can particularly recommend mtmconsulting (www.mtmconsulting.co.uk) who have been giving sound advice on demographics, marketing and promotion since 1984. MTM also run regular and most valuable conferences in London for proprietors : the only such conference we know of anywhere.