**Press Release**
December 18th 2009
Gabbitas Education acquires the Independent Schools Network of websites from Dotnology - 3.5 million unique visitors a year, all with an interest in independent education.
Since 2002, Gabbitas Education has worked closely with an internet marketing partner Dotnology. Frank Tiarks, Dotnology’s founder, has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the internet marketing field, spending the past 7 years building the Independent Schools Network (ISN) of websites. These receive over 3.5 million unique visitors each year from parents who are interested in independent or university education, both in the UK and worldwide. The network includes a family of over 25 websites including independentschools.com, boardingschools.co.uk, privateschools.co.uk, universities.co.uk, emetis.co.uk and prepschools.co.uk.
Catherine Stoker, Gabbitas Managing Director commented, “Gabbitas has enjoyed a long-term working relationship with Dotnology. Their promotion of our services via internet marketing has been first class and invaluable to building our business as a whole.”
Since its purchase by Prospects in April 2008, Gabbitas has enjoyed the benefits of being part of a proactive and forward-thinking parent company, which sees the long-term financial gain of investment in an ambitious strategic development plan.
As part of these strategic growth plans, Gabbitas recognises the need for expansion of its in-house capability and expertise, to provide parents with internet-based free information, as well as access to high quality one-to-one education advisory services. With this is mind, we are very pleased to announce that we have completed the acquisition of the Independent Schools Network. As part of the purchase agreement, Frank Tiarks will remain with Gabbitas in a consultancy capacity for the next 5 years. His expertise will enable us to continue to develop as a market leader in the provision of education advisory services and information about independent education worldwide, well into the future.
Ray Auvray, Chairman of Prospects Group, commented, “We are delighted that this deal with the Independent Schools Network will reinforce Gabbitas’ position as the leading advisory organisation for independent education”. He continued, “I am excited at the prospect of Frank Tiarks and his team joining us to undertake innovative work on internet-based marketing. This deal is significant both for Gabbitas and for the wider Prospects Group”.
Frank Tiarks replied, “The fact that Dotnology would be joining Gabbitas and Prospects, Gabbitas being the most long-standing and forward-thinking companies within the independent education field, made this a most attractive proposition and therefore an easy and logical decision to make.” He continued, “This development will enable Dotnology to build on our already successful working relationship with Gabbitas and Prospects and to excel in supporting their development as market leaders in their field.”
Gabbitas is already working with independent schools to develop some exciting new internet-based marketing initiatives, making use of these new assets.