20.08.2012

AFI acquires another training company

UK access rental company AFI has acquired the UTN training just months after it snapped up Instant Training.

The transaction is an asset purchase from Utilities Training (Northern) Ltd – the full name of the company - which is owned by Stephen and Elizabeth Fisher.

UTN, which conveniently operates from the same building in Wakefield as AFI, was founded in 1996 and provides a wide range of safety-related courses. The business will continue to operate from the same premises and will retain the UTN Training name.
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AFI Training is already one of the UK’s largest providers of IPAF and PASMA working at height courses. The enlarged AFI and UTN safety-related training business includes Working at Height, Abrasive Wheels, Manual Handling, Asbestos Awareness, Fork Lift, Site Safety, First Aid, Health & Safety, Confined Spaces and New Roads & Street Works.
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AFI group business development director Nick Selley said: “AFI’s acquisition of the assets of a second training company within just three months highlights our commitment to developing the safety training side of our business. It is also a further example of how AFI’s strong financial position is allowing us to capitalise on opportunities in the market.”

“UTN Training is highly regarded and in recognition of this, we are retaining the UTN Training name and we will continue to operate all UTN scheduled courses”

“UTN’s customers will have the added advantage of having access to AFI’s 20 training centres throughout the UK and our team of over 12 trainers. In addition, they will also have ready access to one of the most modern and versatile powered access hire fleets in the UK, with over 4,500 scissor, boom, mast and push around vertical lifts being available, together with a comprehensive range of new and used machines for sale, and AFI Finance packages to make purchasing easier”.

Vertikal Comment

This and the Instant acquisition looks like an excellent strategy on the part of AFI, not only does it expand its share of the working at height training market which is substantial and growing, but it also diversifies the industries and types of training it covers.

By offering a wide range of training to industries that can be hard to reach for powered access rental companies it also opens the door for its rental division.

On top of this the company clearly has its eyes set on catching up or overtaking the UK’s largest IPAF certified trainer – Lavendon.