Study Group

Previously acquired by businessmen Andrew Colin and Duncan Greenland in 1989, the company dates the origin of Study Group as British Study Group, with centres in Hastings and Brighton, England. A second language school was opened in Hove shortly after. Colin had previously acquired Bellerbys College, a sixth-form college for international students and was later incorporated in 1994 by Colin and Greenland, adding a third shareholder/director John Collyer with the merger.

For its initial offerings in the United Kingdom, Study Group's international students on pathway programmes were taught at an "International Study Centre" in partner university premises before starting their degree courses. As of 2021, it also offers its own online pathway programme.{{cite web |url=https://www.onlinepathways.com|publisher=Study Group|title=Online Pathway Programmes|accessdate=2022-08-31}}

In 1996, 40% of the business was acquired by the Daily Mail Group,[http://www.dmgt.co.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/19981210/3165/ Daily Mail Group Press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011151737/http://www.dmgt.co.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/19981210/3165/ |date=2008-10-11 }} Preliminary unaudited consolidated results from Thursday 10 December 1998; mentions Study Group becoming a subsidiary. becoming Study Group International. The same year, it expanded to the United States and Australia.[http://www.dmgt.co.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/19971211/3145/ Another Daily Mail Group press release] Preliminary unaudited consolidated results from Thursday 11 December 1997; mentions expansion into US and Australia.[http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Special Report: The Evolution of ELC] from Language Travel Magazine. See paragraph headed 'Study Group' for details of acquisition strategy.

In 1999, the Daily Mail Group paid an estimated GB£44 million[http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/jun07web/jun07specreport.htm Language Travel Magazine] Special Report: Industry Entrepreneurs, June 2007, paragraph titled 'Alternative angles and corporate investment' to take over 100% ownership of Study Group. The company is now known as Study Group.

As part of its expansion to the United Kingdom and Australian operations, Study Group acquired the Center for English Studies (CES) chain of language schools in the United States and Canada, adding Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver to its fold. It was later renamed to Embassy CES, and then Embassy English. In November 2018, Embassy English was acquired by EC.

In 2006 Study Group was acquired by Australian private equity company CHAMP, having been sold by Daily Mail Group for A$176.4 million.[http://www.champmbo.com/html/portfolio_sgi.html Champ website - portfolio page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720011818/http://www.champmbo.com/html/portfolio_sgi.html |date=2008-07-20 }}[http://www.freshfields.com/sector/comms-media/news/Pressrelease.asp?newsitem=938 Press release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223254/http://www.freshfields.com/sector/comms-media/news/Pressrelease.asp?newsitem=938 |date=2007-09-27 }} from international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, advisors on the sale.

In 2007, the Brighton school and UK head office moved to purpose-built premises in the New England Quarter, next to Brighton station,[https://web.archive.org/web/20161023165020/http://www.embassyenglish.com/schools/england/brighton Embassy website Brighton location] Embassy Brighton[http://www.studygroup.com/corporate/english/news_2006/brighton_centre_1.asp Study Group.com corporate website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008184347/http://www.studygroup.com/corporate/english/news_2006/brighton_centre_1.asp |date=2007-10-08 }} New Brighton Study Centre Ahead of Schedule.[http://www.new-england-quarter.co.uk/commercial.htm New England Quarter official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006133545/http://www.new-england-quarter.co.uk/commercial.htm |date=2007-10-06 }} Short description of the Quarter's commercial uses. costing an estimated GB£28 million.[http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/may07web/may07news.htm Language Travel Magazine] New Buildings for British ELT

On July 1, 2010, Providence Equity Partners took ownership of Study Group for $660 million Australian dollars.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2010 |title=Providence Buys Australia's Study Group |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/providence-to-buy-australias-study-group/ |website=DealBook - The New York Times}}

In February 2019, Ardian, a private investment house, announced that it had acquired a majority stake in Study Group.{{Cite web |last=Dorbian |first=Iris |date=21 February 2019 |title=Ardian to buy Study Group from Providence Equity |url=https://www.pehub.com/ardian-to-buy-study-group-from-providence-equity/ |url-access=registration |website=PE Hub}}

In February 2020, Study Group acquired the learning experience platform insendi to help develop its online pathway program offering.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Kerrie |date=13 February 2020 |title=Study Group acquires edtech platform, Insendi |url=https://thepienews.com/news/edtech-study-group-acquires-insendi/ |website=The PIE News}}

In 2022, Study Group closed its Brighton-based Bellerbys College, reflecting changing patterns of international student mobility, and in 2024 launched Bellerbys Global to provide Foundation programs for international students nearer to their home countries.{{cite web |title=Bellerbys International |url=https://www.studygroup.com/university-solutions/bellerbys-global |accessdate=2024-07-08 |publisher=Study Group}}

Study Group is led by CEO Ian Crichton.

{{cite web |title=Study Group CEO |url=https://www.studygroup.com/blog/study-group-new-chief-executive-ian-crichton |accessdate=2024-07-08 |publisher=Study Group}} Academic leadership is provided by Provost and Chief Academic Offices Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering who was herself an international student. The Study Group Academic Board is chaired by former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and eminent physicist Professor Sir Keith Burnett.

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• {{Official website|http://www.studygroup.com}}

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Category:Language schools

Category:Multinational companies

Category:International business

Category:Education companies of the United Kingdom