An ambitious Cotswold business has acquired a Gloucester firm as part of its on-going growth plans.

Cirencester-headquartered learning and talent management company, Kallidus, has revealed it is the new owner of Quedgeley-based e-learning specialist Engage in Learning.

According to Kallidus, which employs 125 staff and turns over £12.5 million, the new addition (which itself turns over £2.5 million and has 23 staff) compliments its existing portfolio and will 'continue to operate as a standalone business for now'.

Punchline understands Engage in Learning, which has 800 customers, will remain in Gloucester with "any changes part of overall office planning for Kallidus as it continues to grow".

Kallidus, whose strategy is supported by its funding partner, Apse Capital, has recruited 33 staff since July 1 and is currently looking to recruit a further six.

Rob Caul (pictured), chief executive officer of Kallidus, said: "We are delighted to welcome Engage in Learning to our business.

"The combination of our learning platform's industry leading user experience (UX) and the most engaging content in the market will make it quicker and easier for L&D (learning and development) teams to empower their colleagues with personalised learning experiences that supports continuous development and delivers real business impact."

Chris Horseman, managing director of Engage in Learning, said: "Joining forces with Kallidus will allow us to deliver the constantly evolving library of quality editable content we are known for, at a much larger scale, and to support the delivery of personalised learning pathways to enhance employee performance."

Kallidus customers include McDonald's, NHS, Transport for London and Eurostar. Engage in Learning can count Toyota, OCS, Cancer Research UK, Kettle Foods and Moonpig along its list.

Asked how it views 2020 Mr Caul said "positively, with lots of opportunity for growth, however, in the short term we will have to see how the Coronavirus impacts the overall economy".

Apse Capital "specialises in growth capital and buyout opportunities, looking to partner with high-quality management teams to help them scale and transform their businesses, develop new markets, create platforms and maximise value".