Muckle recruited to advise education staffing provider on its sale
Lawyers in our corporate team have advised a North East education recruitment company on its sale to an international education staffing platform.
AK Teaching, headquartered in Sunderland, provides full‑ and part‑time teaching and support staff for primary, secondary, and SEND schools. The business, which was founded in 2012 by Anthony Kirtley, is one of the largest independent agencies of its kind in the North East.
Zen Educate links teachers and teaching assistants to school vacancies, without the burden of expensive agency fees, in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
As part of the sale, AK Teaching’s current management team will continue to manage the business under the Zen Educate umbrella, with wider support from the Zen Educate team.
Shared values
Anthony Kirtley, founder and managing director of AK Teaching, said: "Over the past 13 years we've built AK Teaching into a trusted partner for schools and candidates across the North, thanks to the dedication of our team and the strong relationships we’ve formed with the education community.
"Joining Zen Educate marks the start of an exciting next chapter. Their investment, technology and vision will help us enhance the service we provide to schools and continue our growth, while staying true to the values that got us here."
Slava Kremerman, chief executive of Zen Educate, added: "Our ambition is to continue expanding across the UK and internationally through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions where there is a strong values alignment to do right by the education sector.
"AK Teaching is a fantastic addition to the Zen Educate family, it’s a well-established business with an excellent reputation, strong regional presence and a team that shares our commitment to supporting schools, educators and pupils. Together, we can drive complementary growth and make an even greater impact across the education sector."
Top of the class legal advice
Matthew Walsh, partner in our corporate team, led on the advice to the shareholders of AK Teaching. Matthew was supported by Stephanie Brown, Lucy Dougall, Atif Salim and Abi Chorlton-Wilson.
Matthew Walsh said: “It was a pleasure to support AK Teaching in this exciting new chapter of the business. As a strong, growing and trusted business rooted in the North East. AK Teaching perfectly aligns with Zen Educate’s growth strategy, and this move facilitates even greater opportunities to improve education recruitment. We wish both AK Teaching and Zen Educate the best of luck as they continue to take the business to even greater heights.”
Local accountancy and business advisory firm Ryecroft Glenton provided financial advice to the shareholders of AK Teaching.
For more information, contact Matthew Walsh using [email protected] or 0191 211 7893.