Once upon a time a small, local, privately owned work-based learning provider decided it wanted to grow. And grow it did.

The driving forces behind STL, or Sheffield Trainers Limited, adopted an aggressive mergers and acquisitions strategy with a view to rapid growth and access to larger apprenticeship and work-based learning contracts. Soon one became four, with the additions of Triangle Training, Orient Gold and Sencia.

We worked with the leadership team to create a new brand hierarchy and brand expression ‘Skills for learning, skills for living.” Each business retained its operating name but adopted the new brand look and feel created for ESG.

We developed brand guidelines and applied the brand across a range of customer, employee and investor communications – from websites to board reports and brand environments.

Our press experts were also hard at work gaining valuable exposure for the brand in the press and building ESG’s reputation as a national provider operating in the premiere league. Soon all that noise got them noticed and just five years after setting up the business was acquired for in excess of £80m and is now part of Interserve.