Inspiring Learning expected to be put up for sale by its lenders

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Inspiring Learning, which provides educational adventure trips for schoolchildren, expected to be put up for sale by its lenders

  • The firm has met with investment banks recently ahead of a possible auction 
  • Lenders took over in summer 2020 after the pandemic crippled the business 
  • IL has since recovered and now generates £10 million of profit a year 

By Amy-jo Crowley, Financial Mail On Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Inspiring Learning, which provides educational adventure trips for thousands of schoolchildren, is expected to be put up for sale by its lenders, The Mail on Sunday understands. 

The firm, whose brands include Kingswood and Camp Beaumont, held pitches with investment banks in recent weeks ahead of a possible auction by the end of the year, according to City sources. 

Spirit of adventure: Inspiring Learning was founded in 1933 as Schools Travel Service

Former private equity owner Bridgepoint was forced to hand over the keys to Inspiring Learning’s lenders – including Barings and Crescent Capital – in summer 2020 after the pandemic crippled the business, it is understood. 

The company has since recovered and now generates £10 million of profit a year before interest, tax and exceptional costs, a source said. 

Inspiring Learning was founded in 1933 as Schools Travel Service. Bridgepoint acquired it for a reported £110million in 2016. 

The company last year worked with 210,000 pupils and teachers.

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