ClearCourse acquires Not-for-Profit sector CRM and Digital specialist Protech

August 1, 2019

London | 01 August 2019 - ClearCourse Partnership LLP (“ClearCourse” or “the Partnership”), a group of innovative technology companies providing software, services and digital capabilities to the membership, events & bookings and sports & leisure sectors, today announces the acquisition of Protech (“the Company”), a leader in the provision of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and the creation of websites specifically for Professional Awarding Bodies and Membership Organisations. Protech is ClearCourse’s 12th acquisition since October 2018, solidifying the Partnership’s position as a key player in the CRM sector.

Protech was founded in 1995 to deliver CRM software and change management services to the not for profit and public sectors from its headquarters in the West Midlands. The Company is a certified Crown Commercial Supplier on the G-Cloud 11 framework in the cloud hosting, software and support service category, meaning that its services have been carefully evaluated by the UK Government, gaining approval to work with any public sector organisation in the country. The Company utilises its best of breed ProConnect technology to deliver a broad suite of CRM and digital services to support its clients in the key areas of membership & subscriptions, qualifications & learning management and event management. Its clients include NCC Education, The Association for Project Management, The Chartered Management Institute, The Institute of Brewing and Distilling, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and the College of Policing, for which it led the development of a digital first strategy for professional development in policing.

ClearCourse was founded to help add value in innovative UK-based technology companies with strong management teams and complementary offerings, facilitating operational and commercial synergies and enabling cross-selling of relevant products and services. ClearCourse will provide Protech with the financial resources to continue its growth within the not-for-profit and public sectors as well as opportunities to work closely with the other Partnership companies, including NetXtra who Protech already has an established relationship with, to reach an expanded potential client base.

We look forward to supporting Protech’s ongoing growth strategy and expansion plans.

Gerry Gualtieri – CEO of ClearCourse

Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, commented: “Protech is a fantastic addition to the ClearCourse Partnership as we expand our CRM offering into the not-for-profit sector. The Company has a great reputation for working closely with its peers to deliver industry leading projects to their clients, which is exactly the kind of culture we are nurturing within the Partnership. We look forward to supporting Protech’s ongoing growth strategy and expansion plans.”

Following the acquisition, Founder Mark Trouth will step down as CEO in order to take on an advisory role with the group. Going forward, the business will be led by Jenny Watkins in the new role of Managing Director. Jenny currently serves as Protech’s COO and has been with the company for over 19 years. She will take over from Mark with immediate effect and will be responsible for ongoing strategy and operations for the business.

Mark Trouth, Founder of Protech, said: “For over 20 years, Protech has been a trusted partner to NFP and public sector organisations. In that time, we have established ourselves as an industry leader. I’m really proud to have led the business to where it is today and look forward to working with Jenny and the team at ClearCourse to continue delivering the best service we can to our growing client base.”

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FinTech Software and Payments veteran Simon Black joins ClearCourse board

December 11, 2024

11 December 2024, London, UK: ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and payments for UK SMEs, is pleased to announce the appointment of FinTech, Software and Payments veteran Simon Black as Non-Executive Director. Simon has a track record of leading technology companies through rapid periods of growth and brings a wealth of experience in strategy, branding, M&A and fundraising. Simon has over three decades of experience in Fintech software and Payments. He is the former CEO of PPRO which he transformed from a German start-up into a global leader in alternative payments, via international expansion and multiple successful funding rounds. Prior to PPRO, Simon was CEO of SagePay, where he led the business to 10x revenue growth. Simon currently advises growth-stage companies and private equity investors on driving innovation, market disruption and long-term growth. This appointment comes at an exciting time for ClearCourse, as the company expands its UK market presence while continuing to provide mission-critical products and services to help customers manage and grow their businesses. Throughout 2024, ClearCourse acquired an additional 4 businesses in ThinkSmart, CSY, Gob2b and Harbour Assist as part of its strategy to build a strong presence in key vertical markets characterised by high digital adoption and establishing itself in the fast-growing online and mobile payments space. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “ I am delighted to welcome Simon to the ClearCourse board at a pivotal stage of our growth journey. He shares our ambition of building the business into a major actor in the embedded fintech space. Simon’s impressive track record of scaling payment businesses will be invaluable in supporting ClearCourse grow further in the UK and beyond and we look forward to working closely with him. ” Simon Black, incoming Non-Executive Director, added: “ I am delighted to be joining the board of ClearCourse, an exciting, innovative business with many opportunities as the high demand for embedded payments from SMBs continues unabated. I have known Christina and the Aquiline team for some time, and I have been impressed by ClearCourse’s rapid growth to date. The Group’s winning combination of deep vertical domain expertise and seamless integrated payments is truly market leading. I look forward to supporting ClearCourse’s continued leadership in attractive key sector verticals. ”

Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Marina and Harbour Software Provider Harbour Assist

October 17, 2024

London, 17 October 2024 – ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, announces the acquisition of Harbour Assist. Founded in 2013 and based in Cornwall, Harbour Assist is a leading cloud-based marina management system that integrates customer relations, communications, asset management, invoicing and reporting into a single, easy-to-use software package. Harbour Assist serves a diverse range of marina and harbour clients across the UK, Canada, Fiji, Mexico, New Zealand, US, Australia, and the Middle East. Their clients include independent operators and multi-site organisations, Trust Ports and public sector such as Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, Lakeland Leisure Estates, Fowey Harbour, Port of Ramsgate. Harbour Assist’s reach extends to some of the world’s most prominent marinas and harbours. Harbour Assist’s industry-specific software focuses on enhancing administrative efficiency, improving customer service, and providing robust tools for managing moorings, berths, billing, and communication with boat owners. With ClearCourse, the platform will gain access to embedded payment tools as well as additional development resources, enhancing its capability to deliver a greater quantity of features at pace. Christina Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of ClearCourse, said : “We are delighted to welcome Harbour Assist into the ClearCourse Group. As a market leader and disrupter in marine and harbour software, Harbour Assist acquisition underscores our aim for success in 2024. This collaboration will not only enhance the service, and solutions offered to Harbour Assist’s customers but also provide them with access to a broader range of resources and expertise. We eagerly anticipate working with Nick, Graham, and the team to explore new markets, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver an integrated offering to our customers.” Nick Gill and Graham Laidler Co-founders of Harbour Assist said : “It’s very exciting to join the ClearCourse group at this crucial stage in our growth journey. For over a decade, we've earned our reputation by delivering mission-critical software designed and developed by a team of maritime professionals. Leveraging years of practical experience and ongoing customer feedback. Partnering with ClearCourse enables us to expand further and future proof our business by adding a range of innovative and efficient payments solutions, something we are incredibly excited about.” Harbour Assist will be part of the ClearCourse Sports and Leisure division. This announcement follows the recent acquisitions of B2B eCommerce platform GOb2b and retail EPOS solutions provider CSY. With these strategic additions, ClearCourse is poised to leverage enhanced capabilities and resources, driving innovation and delivering superior features to its users. Established in London in 2018, ClearCourse is a leading software and embedded payment specialist. The group’s vertical software solutions provide essential, industry-specific technology to help their customers manage and grow their businesses. Since inception, the company has undergone rapid growth by acquiring over 40 leading software and payments solutions in its core market verticals which are all underpinned by ClearCourse Payments and Services. The terms of the deal are undisclosed.