Aspire Development UK, based in Halifax, has been bought by Manchester-based Cognition Education UK (CEUK), part of global education company Cognition Learning Group.

CEUK currently delivers a range of services on behalf of the Department for Education and the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) across England.

Parent company, Cognition Learning Group has a 32-year track record of providing education services in more than 20 countries.

Cognition Learning Group chief executive Tina Lucas said: “It is with pleasure I announce the acquisition of Aspire and welcome them to our business. Aspire’s extensive experience, market reputation for quality leadership and training programmes combined with their shared passion for education makes them a perfect complementary business to our expanding group.”

Alison Wheatly, Aspire chief executive, added: “This is an exciting time for Aspire as we join a global organisation and look forward to the experience that Cognition Learning Group provides.

“Aspire is very proud of the high quality and successful learning programmes and qualifications we have provided since 2005 and believe we have found in Cognition Education an organisation which can build on this quality and success through their passion for learning and their expertise and specialism in training and education.

“Our future looks very bright as we explore expansion opportunities under the direction of Cognition’s expert team.”

Aspire Development was advised by Steven Millward, Jessica Fielden, Jack Venable, Harry Whyte (corporate), John Feaster (tax)