Embassy CES

Embassy CES is an international chain of 19 English language schools owned by Study Group, and operating in five Anglophone countries across the world.

Infobox Company
name = Embassy CES
type = English language school
foundation = Hastings, UK, 1989
location_city = Brighton, Sydney, New York
location_country = UK, Australia, USA
location =
locations = 19
industry = TEFL, EFL, ESOL
services = English courses, examination preparation courses, university preparation

num_employees =
parent = Study Group
slogan = English Language Training Worldwide
homepage = [http://www.embassyces.com Embassy CES website]
intl = yes

History

1989: Businessmen Andrew Colin and Duncan Greenland acquired Embassy language school in Hastings, England.

1991: A second Embassy language school was opened in Hove.

1994: The company British Study Group was formed, comprising the two Embassy schools, and Bellerbys, a sixth-form college for international students.

1996: 40% of the business was acquired by the Daily Mail Group [ [http://www.dmgt.co.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/19981210/3165/ Daily Mail Group Press release] Preliminary unaudited consolidated results from Thursday 10 December1998; mentions Study Group becoming a subsidiary.] [ [http://www.dmgt.co.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/19971211/3145/ Another Daily Mail Group press release] Preliminary unaudited consolidated results from Thursday 11 December 1997; mentions expansion into US and Australia. ] ; a third Embassy school was opened in Cambridge.

1997/1998: Major acquisitions in Australia [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Special Report: The Evolution of ELC] from Language Travel Magazine. See paragraph headed 'Study Group' for details of acquisition strategy.] .

1998: Study Group acquired the CES chain of language schools in the USA and Canada [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Report from Language Travel Magazine] As above.] , adding Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver to their fold. Embassy became Embassy CES. Study Group International was formed [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Report from Language Travel Magazine] As above.] .

1999: The Daily Mail Group took over 100% of the business [ [http://www.dmgt.co.uk/docs/1999.04.04-interimreport.pdf DMGT interim report 1999 - PDF] See page 3, paragraph headed 'Funding' for reference to the purchase of the outstanding minority of the company.] , paying an estimated UK£44 million [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/jun07web/jun07specreport.htm Language Travel Magazine] Special Report: Industry Entrepreneurs, June 2007, paragraph titled 'Alternative angles and corporate investment'] , and the company acquired Newnham Language Centre in Cambridge and International House in Hastings.

2001: The Oxford Language Training Centre was acquired.

2002: Opened a school in Auckland, New Zealand [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Language Travel Magazine Special Report: The Evolution of ELC] See paragraph headed 'Study Group' for details of acquisitions]

2004: Embassy CES opened its first purpose-built school designed by Watkins Grey Associates LLP [ [http://www.wgi.co.uk/wgiEduSGC.html Watkins Grey Associates website] Overview of build project, with photos.] [ [http://www.studygroup.com/corporate/english/news_2004/greenwich_ukconstruction.pdf PDF from UK Construction Magazine] (hosted on Studygroup corporate site) describing the building's features.] on a site in Greenwich/Deptford, London, sharing premises with sister company Bellerbys college. Residential accommodation was also built in partnership with University of Greenwich [ [http://www.jarvis-uk.com/jarvisplc/media/releases/pr2003/2003-02-11/ Press release from the builders, Jarvis PLC] Greenwich development will deliver new student digs 11 February 2003.]

2006: Study Group acquired by private equity company Champ for A$176.4 million [ [http://www.champmbo.com/html/portfolio_sgi.html Champ website - portfolio page] ] [ [http://www.freshfields.com/sector/comms-media/news/Pressrelease.asp?newsitem=938 Press release] from international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, advisors on the sale. ] .

2007: Brighton school and UK head office moved to purpose-built premises in the New England Quarter, next to Brighton station [ [http://www.embassyces.com/english/aboutus/brighton_news.aspx Embassy CES website news page] News from Embassy CES Brighton] [ [http://www.studygroup.com/corporate/english/news_2006/brighton_centre_1.asp Studygroup.com corporate website] New Brighton Study Centre Ahead of Schedule.] [ [http://www.new-england-quarter.co.uk/commercial.htm New England Quarter official site] Short description of the Quarter's commercial uses.] , costing an estimated UK£28 million [ [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/may07web/may07news.htm Language Travel Magazine] New Buildings for British ELT] .

tatistics

Embassy CES has 19 schools [ [http://www.embassyces.com/english/centres/locations.aspx Embassy CES site: our schools] ] in:

* USA: New York, Boston (2 schools), Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle

* UK: London, Brighton, Cambridge, Hastings, Oxford

* Australia: Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth

* New Zealand: Auckland

Number of students who study with Embassy CES per year: Approximately 36,000 [In 2004. [http://www.hothousemedia.com/ltm/ltmbackissues/feb05web/feb05specreport.htm Special Report the Evolution of ELC] from Language Travel Magazine - see paragraph titled 'Study Group'.]

Notable staff and students

taff

* Adrian Underhill, training advisor at ECES; ex-director of the International Teacher Training Institute at International House Hastings [ [http://www.ihlondon.com/pdc/events/conferences/2005/abstracts.asp] International House 2005 conference - speakers' abstracts.] ; series editor of the Macmillan Teacher Development Series; author of "Sound Foundations: Living Phonology" and its chart; contributed to the development of the "Macmillan English Dictionary" and associated works [ [http://www.macmillandictionary.com/MED-magazine/October2005/34-MED-Magazine-contributors.htm Macmillan English Dictionaries Magazine] Introduction to contributors, including Adrian Underhill.]

* Tim Bowen, author of books on EFL teacher-training, pronunciation, business English and ESP. Teaches at Embassy CES Hastings (formerly International House). [ [http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?catid=58013&docid=144561 One Stop English publishers' website] author profile.] .

tudents

According to the Embassy CES website, several 'celebrities' have studied at various Embassy CES schools [ [http://www.embassyces.com/english/aboutus/meet_celebrities.aspx Embassy CES website 'Celebrities at Embassy CES' page] ] :

* Ruby Lin Taiwanese actress and singer. Studied English at Embassy CES New York, with side-classes in acting at the New York Film Academy in 2004, and wrote a book (My Private New York [ [http://ruby-lin.com/ Ruby Lin fan website] ] [ [http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1003962983/code-c/section-books/ YesAsia bookshop] My Private New York by Ruby Lin] ) about the experience.

* Isabel Bawlitza Miss World Chile 2000 and a semifinalist in Miss World 2000.

* Katrin Meißner Former freestyle swimmer from East Germany, who won three medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

* Manuela Fellner Swiss folk singer and winner of the music contest TV programme Grand Prix on SF DRS. [ [http://www.manuela-fellner.ch/ Manuela Fellner official site] ]

* Riyo Mori Japanese dance instructor who won the Miss Universe 2007 title in May 2007. She studied at Embassy CES in New York.Fact|date=October 2007

External links

* [http://www.embassyces.com Embassy CES website]
* [http://www.studygroup.com Study Group website]
* [http://www.champmbo.com/ Champ website]
* [http://www.internetadvantage.org/duncangreenland.asp? Duncan Greenland profile]
* [http://www.sovcredit.co.uk/keypeople.htm Andrew Colin profile]

References