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The education and training business market is evolving rapidly. Growth in higher education, vocational training and online education is attracting buyers and investors. We provide clear, strategic advice to education business owners preparing for a business sale.
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Australia’s education and training sector is a major contributor to the national economy. The sector has historically grown at over 8% annually, supported by population growth, workforce reskilling and sustained international student demand. International education contributed over $53 billion in export income in 2024/25, reinforcing the sector’s global importance.
We help education and training business owners maximise enterprise value before and during a transaction. Our structured process improves positioning, strengthens negotiation leverage and attracts the right buyers or investors.
The Australian education industry continues to expand across early learning, higher education and vocational training. Growth in online education and innovative digital platforms is reshaping service delivery models.
Government funding, international enrolments and workforce reskilling are supporting long-term demand across the education sector. At the same time, regulatory requirements and compliance standards remain central to provider credibility and investment appeal.
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These selected case studies reflect our experience advising businesses with education, training and workforce development operations. They illustrate our disciplined analysis, senior-led execution and focus on achieving strong outcomes.
Working with Nash was an absolute pleasure. They were at all times completely responsible and accountable to everything that we needed. Their strong financial acumen was incredibly important throughout the whole process. It was really important that they were able to truly articulate the value of the business in its current state and also look and really delve into the potential future alternate uses for the business…We were really happy with the interest that Nash generated. So we had multiple seriously interested parties, which created that competitive tension that you really need in a deal and was able to achieve the outcome that we wanted and that we expected.
After that first meeting it was clearly evident that the team at Nash were the right partner for us. They showed knowledge of the sector during that first meeting and I guess in every sort of situation, people buy people, and we certainly bought into Tom and Kieran during that first meeting in Melbourne.
Nash have made it seamless for us and most importantly now the ownership is actually sitting within Australia rather than an international operator. So we’re really pleased with that outcome.
Working with Nash was an absolute pleasure. They were at all times completely responsible and accountable to everything that we needed. Their strong financial acumen was incredibly important throughout the whole process. It was really important that they were able to truly articulate the value of the business in its current state and also look and really delve into the potential future alternate uses for the business…We were really happy with the interest that Nash generated. So we had multiple seriously interested parties, which created that competitive tension that you really need in a deal and was able to achieve the outcome that we wanted and that we expected.
Unlock a world of possibilities with Nash Advisory's global capabilities. Through our partnership with REACH, we provide unparalleled access to industry experts and local market connoisseurs across 30 countries.
Whether you're selling your business, merging, or seeking investment, our team of seasoned professionals crafts bespoke strategies tailored to your unique needs. Trust us to navigate the complexities of the global market, ensuring you achieve exceptional outcomes that reflect the true value of your hard work and dedication.
As one of our clients, you will have direct access to the knowledge and experience of our directors. We will work through the whole process with you, from start to finish.
We know what makes a business appealing to buyers, because we've owned and run businesses ourselves. Our own experience informs every step of our process.
Maximising the sale price of your business requires finding the right buyer. We have a broad network of contacts which includes Australian and international businesses.
We only succeed if you do. We focus all our efforts on getting you the best result. That's why most of our fees are on the back end.
As one of our clients, you will have direct access to the knowledge and experience of our directors. We will work through the whole process with you, from start to finish.
We know what makes a business appealing to buyers, because we've owned and run businesses ourselves. Our own experience informs every step of our process.
Maximising the sale price of your business requires finding the right buyer. We have a broad network of contacts which includes Australian and international businesses.
We only succeed if you do. We focus all our efforts on getting you the best result. That's why most of our fees are on the back end.
We provide a focused range of professional services to education businesses across Australia. From business sale preparation to valuations and mergers, our team offers expert advice tailored to your specific objective and market opportunity.
We provide expert guidance to help you prepare, market, and negotiate the best outcome for your business sale.
Our team delivers accurate, data-driven valuations to help you understand and enhance your business’s worth.
Our proprietary approach to business sales ensure you get the highest possible sale multiple for your business.
Our blueprint outlines the end-to-end sale process, from preparation through to completion. Gain insight into the documents, milestones and strategy required to achieve a strong transaction outcome.
Our experience includes advising founders, investors and corporate buyers on transactions across education, training and adjacent sectors. Each completed engagement demonstrates structured execution and carefully managed negotiation.
PGL Beyond, owned by Ares Management, is the United Kingdom’s largest provider of outdoor education. The company operates leading school camps and activity programs across the United Kingdom and France.
In Australia, PGL owned and operated three large-scale camp facilities, welcoming more than 40,000 guests annually. These camps cater to a diverse range of groups, including schools, religious organisations, and sporting associations, with the capacity to accommodate over 1,000 guests at any given time.
The shareholders of PGL Beyond engaged Nash Advisory to manage the divestment of its Australian operations, following a strategic decision by PGL Beyond to focus on its European operations and brand portfolio. The sale encompassed three well-established sites in prime regional locations, offering significant growth potential within the outdoor education and experiential learning sector.
PGL Beyond’s Australian facilities and operations were ultimately acquired by The Great Aussie Bush Camp, a portfolio company owned by MA Financial and FinCap.
The transaction was led by Thomas Butler and Kieran Ellis, with support from Jock Mitchell.
The Great Aussie Bush Camp is the largest privately owned school camp operator in Australia and is forecast to accommodate over 63,000 school students from all regions of NSW in FY24. The business operates from two prime freehold locations including Tea Gardens in the NSW Hunter region, and Kincumber located in the Central Coast. It also has one leasehold camp located at Lake Macquarie which was opened in early 2023.
The Great Aussie Bush Camp (“GABC”) engaged Nash Advisory to run a process for the sale of up to 100% of the business in April 2022 and were able to guide the owners through a complex sale process during uncertain economic times that involved many sophisticated parties. The transaction was led by Thomas Butler, who was supported by Kieran Ellis.
The Great Aussie Bush Camp was sold to FinCap and MA Financial in November 2023.
Plain English Foundation is Australia’s leading provider of written communication training services for professionals. Nash Advisory was appointed to conduct a strategic review of the business in 2021 before commencing a formal sale process in 2022. Nash identified a number of suitable acquirers of the business, ran a competitive sale process, and in August 2022 Arowana and its portfolio company EdventureCo completed the acquisition of the business. The transaction was managed by Sean O'Neill.
iVET is the leading provider of VET courses to secondary school students in Victoria, providing courses to over 200 schools, with approximately 13,000 enrolled students. In February 2018, Nash Capital acquired iVET Institute, investing both our internal and investor funds into the business.
iVet's success is attributed to its reputation and strong brand, built over a number of years from the quality course content, structure, and service provided to students and teachers. Post-investment, the company has continued to grow and develop through new courses, geographic expansion, and corporatisation.
Whether you plan to start preparing for a sale or explore growth opportunities, our team offers clear, professional advice. We help education providers navigate market challenges and achieve defined goals.
Our team manages the entire sales process, working closely with clients from initial contact through completion. We combine sector insight with disciplined execution to deliver strong outcomes in competitive markets.
Our advisors work with education business owners across Australia and internationally, travelling to support transactions on the ground wherever needed. Directors are allocated based on sector expertise, ensuring relevant experience leads each engagement.
Our advisors travel throughout Australia to work with business owners on-site and manage transactions on the ground. We connect vendors with qualified domestic and international buyers, wherever they operate.
Read our latest analysis on trends, investment activity and strategic developments across this industry. Our insights are designed to support confident transaction planning.
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Follow us for insights that help education business owners understand market shifts, transaction trends and strategic opportunities.
Valuation is influenced by earnings quality, enrolment stability, regulatory compliance and growth potential. Buyers assess management capability, brand strength and scalability, particularly in online education and workforce training segments. Market conditions and competitive tension also affect final sale outcomes.
Preparation should focus on strengthening financial reporting, addressing operational risks and ensuring regulatory compliance and accreditation are current. Owners should document key contracts, reduce customer or student concentration where possible, and clarify management succession. Establishing clear objectives before going to market increases buyer confidence and supports stronger transaction outcomes.
A structured business sale typically takes nine to twelve months from preparation to completion. Timelines depend on business complexity, regulatory requirements and buyer due diligence. Early planning helps establish stronger positioning and negotiation leverage.
Yes. Education businesses with recurring revenue, stable enrolments and strong regulatory standing attract both trade and private equity interest. Strategic operators aim to expand geographic reach or add service lines, while private equity investors target scalable platforms with growth potential. International groups also actively seek Australian market entry, given the sector's global reputation and export strength.
We provide director-led advice from introduction to completion. Our structured process helps you prepare documentation, identify qualified buyers and manage negotiations. The objective is to deliver clarity, protect value and achieve the strongest possible result.
Government funding arrangements, visa and enrolment policy settings and regulatory requirements directly influence buyer risk assessment and transaction structure. Recent changes to international student visa settings have increased scrutiny around enrolment sustainability. Businesses with diversified revenue streams and strong domestic demand are less exposed to policy shifts.
Accreditation and regulatory standing are fundamental to buyer confidence. Buyers assess registration status, compliance history and the strength of quality assurance systems before committing. Gaps in accreditation or unresolved compliance issues can delay transactions or reduce valuations. Early review and remediation strengthen positioning.
Timing depends on earnings performance, enrolment trends and buyer confidence. Selling during a period of stable revenue growth and strong regulatory standing generally produces better valuation outcomes. Owners should also consider management readiness, policy settings and market demand before commencing a sale process. Early preparation gives vendors more control over timing and outcome.
Whether you are ready to start or simply exploring an idea, our team can guide you. Begin a confidential discussion to set expectations and understand the process ahead.
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