A South West investment programme has announced that its investors have secured a strong return on a Qualification Check deal.

Following the sale of their holding in Qualification Check Limited to World Education Services (WES), investors at Bath-based Macaulay Co-Investment Programme have established a return of more than 7x of their initial investment.

WES is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. The services have been providing academic credential evaluations for nearly five decades. With this share purchase, WES will become an investing partner for QCL moving forwards.

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Macaulay investors first invested in QCL in 2017 and supported a follow-on funding round in 2021. Over the six years that Macaulay has been involved with QCL, and led by the founder, Ed Hall, the company said it has “been transformed”.

Richard Bucknell, Macaulay chief investment officer, who led the initial investment through to exit, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Ed and his team over the last six years. The company is unrecognizable from the business that our investors backed in 2017 and I’m proud that we might have played some small part in facilitating the maturing of QCL over the intervening period.

“The relationship with WES has the potential to enhance the business significantly over coming years, and we wish Ed and his colleagues the very best in realising the team’s vision for the future.”

Mr Hall, QCL chief executive added: “Macaulay have been a patient and supportive partner, with input over the years that has very much helped contribute to making QCL the business it is today, as well as giving us the opportunity to commence the next chapter of our development through the partnership with WES.”

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