Carter & Carter
Carter & Carter was a British training and apprenticeship-services group that expanded from automotive outsourcing into large-scale vocational learning and government-funded employment programs.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Carter & Carter was a British-based provider of outsourced training, apprenticeships, and vocational learning services. Established in 1992 by Phillip Carter, the company initially operated as an outsourcing provider in the accident-repair sector. It subsequently developed relationships with major vehicle manufacturers and expanded internationally, working with clients including General Motors, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Jaguar, Volvo, Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen. The company’s principal strategic shift came in 1997, when it won the Audi Academy contract in the United Kingdom. That agreement helped move Carter & Carter beyond automotive operational outsourcing and into formal training, technical education, and workforce development. Automotive training remained central to its activities, but the group broadened its portfolio through acquisitions and contracts covering apprenticeships, technical instruction, engineering, food manufacturing, and employment support. During the 2000s, Carter & Carter pursued an acquisition-led expansion. Bridgepoint Capital invested in the business in 2001. In 2003, Carter & Carter acquired EMTEC Group, an established automotive-training organization. In 2005, it acquired the Automobile Association’s technical-training services group, launched an initial public offering, and purchased ASSA, which provided training in areas including food manufacturing and engineering for the United Kingdom government. In 2006, it acquired Fern Group, a provider supporting unemployed and disabled people through Jobcentre Plus’s New Deal program. It also acquired ReMIT, described as the United Kingdom’s second-largest motor-industry apprenticeship provider, and bought the training division of Quantica together with NTP Ltd and IMS (UK) Ltd. These transactions expanded the group’s role from specialist automotive training into a broader outsourced-learning business serving private companies and public-sector organizations. Its customers and contracting relationships included international vehicle manufacturers, government bodies, and organizations connected with the United Kingdom’s learning and skills system. At its reported peak, the company employed approximately 500 people and managed more than 12,000 learners in the automotive retail sector. Carter & Carter’s financial and operational position deteriorated after the death of founder Phil Carter in a helicopter accident on 2 May 2007. The loss of its founder was followed by uncertainty about the company’s financial position, the ending of contracts with manufacturers and other contractors, and substantial redundancies. Trading in the company’s shares was suspended on 3 October 2007 while its position was assessed. The company was unable to reach an agreement with its banks concerning financial restructuring and entered administration in early March 2008. Near the end of that month, Newcastle College acquired the majority of the business. Carter & Carter therefore ceased to operate as an independent public company. Its history illustrates the rapid consolidation of outsourced vocational training in the United Kingdom during the 1990s and 2000s, as well as the financial risks associated with acquisition-driven growth and dependence on large institutional contracts.
History
Carter & Carter was founded in 1992 by Phillip Carter as an outsourced accident-repair services provider. Its early activities were connected to the automotive sector, and the company later developed relationships with a broad group of international vehicle manufacturers. In 1996, it established operations in the United States and counted General Motors, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Jaguar, Volvo, Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen among its clients. A major change in the company’s direction occurred in 1997, when it won the Audi Academy contract in the United Kingdom. The contract established Carter & Carter as a participant in the automotive training and learning market rather than solely an outsourcing provider. Training became the basis for subsequent expansion, with the company serving manufacturers, employers, and public-sector bodies that required technical instruction, apprenticeships, or workforce-development services. Bridgepoint Capital invested in the business in 2001. Carter & Carter then expanded through acquisitions. The 2003 purchase of EMTEC Group strengthened its automotive-training capabilities. In 2005, the company acquired the Automobile Association’s technical-training services group and launched an initial public offering. During the same year, it acquired ASSA, a provider of United Kingdom government training in food manufacturing and engineering. Expansion continued in 2006. Carter & Carter acquired Fern Group, which delivered training and support to unemployed and disabled people through Jobcentre Plus’s New Deal program. In March, it acquired ReMIT, described as the second-largest apprenticeship-training provider in the United Kingdom’s motor industry. This transaction increased the group’s managed learner base in automotive retail to more than 12,000. In December, Carter & Carter acquired the training division of Quantica as well as NTP Ltd and IMS (UK) Ltd. Through these contracts and acquisitions, the group developed into a diversified provider of outsourced learning services. Its scope included automotive technical training, apprenticeships, manufacturer academies, engineering and food-manufacturing instruction, and employment-related programs funded or commissioned by public bodies. The company reportedly employed around 500 people and maintained offices in Australia, Germany, and Japan in addition to its United Kingdom headquarters in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. The group’s expansion was disrupted in 2007 when founder Phil Carter died in a helicopter accident on 2 May. His death was followed by uncertainty about the company’s finances and operations. Contracts with manufacturers and other contractors ended, and a substantial proportion of the workforce was made redundant. Trading in the company’s shares was suspended on 3 October while its financial position remained uncertain. Carter & Carter was unable to reach an agreement with its banks on a financial restructuring and entered administration in early March 2008. Near the end of that month, Newcastle College acquired the majority of the company. The acquisition ended Carter & Carter’s existence as an independent public group and marked the conclusion of a business that had grown from automotive outsourcing into a multi-sector provider of corporate and government training.
- 2008
Administration and Newcastle College acquisition
[1]Carter & Carter entered administration after unsuccessful restructuring talks with its banks; Newcastle College later acquired the majority of the business.
- 2007
Death of founder and financial uncertainty
[1]Founder Phil Carter died in a helicopter accident, after which the company experienced operational disruption and financial uncertainty.
- 2006
Fern Group acquired
[1]The company acquired Fern Group, which provided training for unemployed and disabled people through Jobcentre Plus’s New Deal program.
- 2006
ReMIT acquired
[1]The acquisition of ReMIT expanded Carter & Carter’s position in motor-industry apprenticeship training and brought its managed automotive-retail learner base above 12,000.
- 2006
Quantica training division, NTP, and IMS acquired
[1]In December, Carter & Carter acquired the training division of Quantica together with NTP Ltd and IMS (UK) Ltd.
- 2005
Technical-training expansion and IPO
[1]The company acquired the Automobile Association’s technical-training services group and launched an initial public offering.
- 2005
ASSA acquired
[1]Carter & Carter acquired ASSA, a provider of United Kingdom government training in food manufacturing and engineering.
- 2003
EMTEC Group acquired
[1]Carter & Carter acquired EMTEC Group, an established automotive training company.
- 2001
Bridgepoint Capital investment
[1]Bridgepoint Capital invested in Carter & Carter, supporting the company’s subsequent expansion.
- 1997
Audi Academy contract won
[1]Winning the United Kingdom Audi Academy contract established the company in the automotive training and learning sector.
Products and positioning
An outsourced learning and workforce-development provider positioned between corporate training, automotive technical education, apprenticeships, and government-funded employment services.
Vocational training · 1997
Automotive technical training
Automotive technical training was the company’s core specialist offering. It supported vehicle manufacturers, retailers, and other automotive employers through structured instruction and outsourced learning services. The business developed from accident-repair outsourcing and later managed training relationships associated with major manufacturers and the Audi Academy.
Apprenticeship services · 2006
Automotive apprenticeships
Carter & Carter delivered and managed apprenticeship programs for the motor industry. The acquisition of ReMIT strengthened this activity and contributed to a learner base of more than 12,000 in automotive retail training, according to the company history summarized in the reference material.
Public-sector training · 2005
Government and employment training
The group provided training and employment-support programs commissioned by United Kingdom public bodies. Through ASSA it operated training related to food manufacturing and engineering, while Fern Group added services for unemployed and disabled people under Jobcentre Plus’s New Deal.
Corporate learning · 1997
Manufacturer academies
Manufacturer academy services gave automotive companies an outsourced platform for technical education and workforce development. The Audi Academy contract was the defining early example of this model and helped establish Carter & Carter in the learning sector.
Brand decisions
2008
Administration and business saleStrategyBackground
The company could not reach agreement with its banks on a financial restructuring after a period of uncertainty following the founder’s death.
Action taken
Carter & Carter entered administration, after which Newcastle College acquired the majority of the company.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Carter & Carter’s existence as an independent public company.
2006
Acquisition-led apprenticeship expansionM&ABackground
Carter & Carter aimed to expand its scale in apprenticeship delivery and employment-related learning.
Action taken
The company acquired Fern Group, ReMIT, the Quantica training division, NTP Ltd, and IMS (UK) Ltd.
Aftermath
The acquisitions broadened the company’s services and increased its managed automotive-retail learner base to more than 12,000.
2005
Expansion into government and technical trainingM&ABackground
The company was broadening beyond automotive outsourcing and manufacturer training.
Action taken
Carter & Carter acquired the Automobile Association’s technical-training services group and ASSA, a provider of government training in food manufacturing and engineering.
Aftermath
The acquisitions diversified the group’s training portfolio and increased its exposure to public-sector contracts.
1997
Move into automotive trainingStrategyBackground
Carter & Carter had begun as an outsourced accident-repair services provider but sought to broaden its role in the automotive sector.
Action taken
The company won the United Kingdom Audi Academy contract and established a substantial training and learning business.
Aftermath
The contract became a foundation for later automotive-training contracts, acquisitions, and apprenticeship services.
Sources1 sources
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