CGA buys out CPL Training Group
CGA, which The Morning Advertiser’s parent company William Reed owns a small stake in, today (4 June) announced the buyout of privately-owned, Birkenhead-based CPL Training Group, which serves the hospitality and retail sectors.
More than 30 employees work for CPL, which trains more than 20,000 staff across the UK hospitality and retail sectors for companies including Stonegate Pub Company, Mitchells & Butlers and Greene King.
“From the moment we bought CPL Online, there was a compelling logic to maximise the opportunity by then acquiring CPL Training,” CGA group chief executive officer Phil Tate said in a statement following the acquisition.
“Of course, the time had to be right for both parties. And I am delighted that that time is now."
‘Map and measure hospitality’
He added: “We now map and measure the hospitality and consumer retail market and support clients even better with training and development, licensing, human resources and retention.
“This acquisition demonstrates CGA’s commitment to driving growth and innovation while supporting one of the most vital parts of the out-of-home industry: its people.”
Recent CGA research showed that, even though businesses are under significant competitive pressures, operators were planning to invest in staff training.
There was consensus among those asked that training staff to give customers a better experience was a necessity during these times.
The research also showed that 71% of those asked cited staff retention as important to the success of their business.
“Clients will benefit from a more robust service offering and superior training and licensing, led by a focused leadership team deeply committed to improving the industry,” CGA said in a statement.
CPL Training Group founder and chief executive officer of Rockpoint Leisure Daniel Davies said that 28 years after founding CPL, the business was in a strong position.
‘Such a successful brand’
“It has been fantastic to establish and grow such a successful brand and I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside some brilliant people along the way, many of whom are still with the business today,” said Davies.
“Following the successful sale of CPL Online to CGA last year, I began to look at the next chapter of my life.
“Having been chairman of the Institute of Licensing for five years and, still having two years remaining, I decided I wanted to continue my work of bringing about real change in the hospitality sector.
“This led to me embarking on the major regeneration of my hometown, New Brighton,” he continued.
“So far, we have successfully opened numerous concepts and retail stores under my new business venture Rockpoint Leisure, and the momentum of our ambitious plans is only gathering pace.”
