Kids safetynet

The Access Partnership, which trades as the National Children’s Safety Books, has been bought from Kids Safetynet by its management team. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed. Funding was provided by Downing Classic VCT3 and HSBC Fund for the North of England. Bank of Scotland provided debt funding.

Hammond Suddards Edge and Pannell Kerr Foster advised the original owners of the business, Kids Safetynet on the management buy-in. Birchall Blackburn and Baker Tilly advised The Access Partnership.

The company links the community liaison programmes of the emergency services including fire, police and ambulance, and other concerned bodies to the curriculum needs of the schools and the safety education of all children. It will remain headquartered in Stockport with sales offices in Burnley, Nantwich, East Kilbride, Liverpool and shortly Stoke-on-Trent.

John McNamee stays as managing director of the company. Brendan Austin, the new chairman, said: “We are delighted to be associated with the team at Access Partnership and see their product range and leadership providing a springboard into new areas of children’s health and safety.”