Tees-based training company expands with fresh investment

An award-winning business training company in Teesside has continued its expansion drive with a new acquisition, after securing fresh investment from UK Steel Enterprise.

Orangebox Training Solutions Ltd, which is based in Hartlepool, took over the London School of Academies and Arts with the help of £25k from the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, and is now eyeing further growth over the next 12 months.

Set up in 2016, Orangebox provides training courses to organisations in the public and private sectors.

It says the new acquisition will allow it to take on more government-funded training, building on its already successful involvement with Job Centres in Teesside the surrounding areas.

The company’s founder, Simon Corbett, said: “I am very grateful that UK Steel Enterprise has helped with this investment which is helping us to keep moving the business forward.

“We are now working globally, as well as for major employers in our home region that include local authorities, retailers, transport companies, charities, care home providers and colleges.”

UK Steel Enterprise area manager Sarah Thorpe added: “We have watched Orangebox go from strength to strength since arriving at the Innovation Centre as a new business in 2016.

“We are very pleased that we have been able to help with the larger offices they needed and also with this investment so the company can move on to the next exciting stage in its development.”

The acquisition announcement comes after Orangebox secured a major contract to provide management training courses in the Middle East, Fiji, New Zealand and America for Invenio, a global IT company employing around 600 staff.