• Ciphr Group has acquired employee benefits platform Avantus. Founded in 2005, Avantus provides its employee benefits and rewards platform FlexGenius to over 400 businesses worldwide. The company also offers a white-labelled solution, MyWorkPal, delivering fully customisable tools to meet diverse organisational needs. Philip Curtis, Avantus’ co-founder and CEO, along with his team of 30, will join Ciphr Group as part of the acquisition.

• Realise, a UK training provider, has secured a multi-million-pound loan from OakNorth, a digital bank specialising in supporting SMEs. The Sheffield-based organisation supports over 16,500 learners annually and employs more than 500 staff across England. Since a management buyout in 2020, backed by private equity firm Endless (Enact Fund), Realise has acquired FW Solutions and Training Plus Merseyside. The loan agreement with OakNorth will enhance Realise’s ability to deliver education services in areas like early years, health and social care, business skills and transport.

• VoltR2R, an expanding people driven consultancy within recruitment-to-recruitment (rec-to-rec) services, has announced its partnership with Purpose Mentoring, a service dedicated to personal growth and career-focused guidance. This collaboration aims to empower recruitment professionals by providing enhanced support that blends career coaching with essential tools for resilience and work-life balance.