Education and care provider sold for £28m
SPECIALIST education and care provider Orbis Education & Care (Orbis) has been sold by its founder in a deal worth £28m.
Andrew McCarthy, the founder of Orbis, has sold the company after growing it into one of the UK’s leading providers of education and care for those living with autism.
Sold via Garrison Barclay Equity to Cardiff-based August Equity in a deal worth £28m, Orbis will continue to be run by its current team.
Mr McCarthy established Orbis in 2005, growing it to a 370-strong team operating seven specialist facilities for children and young people with autism and learning disabilities, including Tŷ Coryton in Cardiff, Tŷ Bronllys in Brecon, Summergil House in Presteigne, The Old Vicarage in Newport, Coed Parc in Port Talbot and Tŷ Galan in Porth.
Last year Orbis announced its intention to create up 200 jobs in Wales as part of ambitious growth plans which saw the opening of three new facilities.
It opened Coed Parc in Port Talbot, a new service in Cwmavon comprising six high-spec apartments specially designed for adults with complex needs.
It was followed by the launch of the group’s first short break and respite service. Tŷ Galan in Porth, which caters to children aged 8-19.
Last to the open was Summergil House in Presteigne, which provides education and care for up to 15 children and young people, eight of which can be on a residential basis, enabling young people to live and learn on site.
Mr McCarthy said: “I’ve been really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve at Orbis over the last 12 years.
“Through expanding services throughout Wales, Orbis has been able to support even more people living with autism in leading full and active lives. The business has a very strong team and is in a good position for me to exit.”
Having exited Orbis, Mr McCarthy is now returning to his roots via his property development company Garrison Barclay Estates.
The award-winning company, which was established in 1998, specialises in the acquisition and development of commercial, residential and retail projects across Wales.
Over its lifetime, it has developed more than 2.5 million sq ft of office and industrial space. As the property market in Wales continues to perform well, Mr McCarthy has ambitious plans for growing Garrison Barclay Estates in the coming years.
He said: “It’s a really exciting time for the property market. You only have to look at the developments taking place in Wales to see that there’s huge potential in the current market.
“Garrison Barclay Estates has had a quiet few years while the property market has been recovering but I’m looking forward to now driving it forward, and targeting planning for 550 residential dwellings this year, along with other office and industrial ventures under way.
“Our strength lies in the quality of our projects, our huge wealth of experience and track record for delivering fast decisions and a nononsense approach to acquisition.
“We have worked on a wide spectrum of developments and we are now focused on investing and delivering high quality projects in all sectors of the property industry across Wales.”
Mr McCarthy also owns Heathfield Independent Schools which operates independent school Kings Monkton in Cardiff.