In a move that secures investment in South Africa’s education sector, RMB Corvest has acquired a 49% stake in the Inscape Education Group. The deal broadens RMB Corvest’s extensive portfolio, while facilitating and supporting Inscape’s growth aspirations.
Established in 1981, the Inscape Education Group is a South African registered, private higher education institution with five campuses in three provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape. The institution offers 10 accredited contact learning programmes and three accredited distance learning programmes with specialisations in design, communication and the built environment. These range from undergraduate higher certificates to postgraduate degrees. Additionally, Inscape provides a growing selection of short courses offered primarily through e-learning. Inscape’s sister company in Dubai operates as a registered training facility in the Dubai Design District.
RMB Corvest executive, Rob Grieve, notes that education remains a key focus in South Africa. With a large youth population, growing interest and access to online learning, many will be seeking some form of quality tertiary education. Inscape’s continued growth since inception, along with its well lead management team made this an ideal investment opportunity.
Inscape CEO, Helen Buhrs, explains that the opportunity for RMB Corvest to invest in the company came about as a result of its growth potential, “Our priority was to find a like-minded business partner. The increasing demand for quality education services for South Africans that are relevant and future-fit means the business is primed for continued growth.”
The business will be looking to expand and extend the breadth of its offering organically and through acquisition. There is foreseeable growth in the education sector being catalysed by education innovations. Furthermore, the government’s Draft National Youth Policy for 2020 – 2030, includes plans to get more young South Africans into higher education institutions (colleges, universities). RMB Corvest believes the higher education sector is a high growth sector with good market fundamentals to support continued growth.
RMB Corvest director, Martin Coetzee, says that they are looking forward to working with the management team at Inscape to grow the company’s offering, “With education remaining a key growth area, it’s the ideal time for Inscape to build on the platform it has already established in the market. We will all be working to ensure it reaches its full potential as an independent business.”
