Status:

Current

Commitment:

£20m

Date of investment:

2019

Sector:

Software

Buy & Build:

13 Completed Acquisitions

“Horizon Capital’s track record in scaling SaaS software businesses and building business through intense buy and build makes them the right partner for Junipers consolidation of the highly fragmented Schools SaaS market.”

Gavin FreedChairman, Juniper

Background

Juniper Education is a provider of SaaS software and subscription services to UK and International Schools.  Juniper’s focus is to deliver high quality software products and wrap around services that enable schools and teachers to focus their time on the effectiveness of their educational delivery. Junipers software suite comprises pupil tracking, curriculum planning, management information, HR and compliance.  Junipers subscription based services include payroll, HR and finance.

The market for software and services to schools is highly fragmented with dozens of single product companies providing point solutions to schools. The market is large with 32,000 schools in the UK and over 10,000 english medium international schools globally.  Market growth of 5-6% per annum is being driven by increased adoption of technology.

Horizon identified an opportunity to consolidate the market and create a market leading business providing a single solution for all a schools requirements.  Juniper also has an opportunity to extend a number of its software products into Early Years, Further and Higher Education.

The Journey so far

Horizon Capital created Juniper Education in 2019 working with Chief Executive Gavin Freed in 2019 and acquired Target Tracker a provider of student tracking to 4,000 schools from Essex County Council together with the Councils HR & Finance services to Schools in Essex and neighbouring authorities.   

Since the initial acquisition we have invested to build a full management team, implement new ERP and CRM systems and have invested heavily in product development.  Organically and through acquisition Junipers products are now used by over 10,000 schools.

Buy and Build

Since the investment from Horizon Capital, Juniper has completed 13 add on acquisitions, and is now the most comprehensive software solutions for UK Schools.

News & Insights

Related Infomation

June 1, 2020 in Juniper, News

Horizon-backed Juniper Education acquires Pupil Asset

Juniper Education has  announced the acquisition of the innovative management information system (MIS) provider, Pupil Asset, which supplies 900 primary schools in the UK. In a step-change for the education sector,…
Read More
January 11, 2021 in Juniper, News

Horizon Capital portfolio company Juniper Education in significant re-financing to support growth

Juniper Education, the Horizon Capital backed education software company, has undertaken a significant refinancing with debt provider Muzinich & Co joining existing lender Clydesdale bank to bolster its acquisition chest…
Read More
May 7, 2021 in Juniper, News

Juniper Education enhances parental engagement with acquisition of PrimarySite

Juniper Education has today announced the acquisition of PrimarySite, which provides nearly 5,000 primary schools, academies, and trusts with subscription based educational websites and comprehensive parent communication solutions. Combining PrimarySite’s…
Read More