Validium spearheads UK expansion plans with scottish purchase

Validium, the integrated EAP and HR consultancy, has bought Fife based EAP provider, Solutions for People for an undisclosed sum, expanding the companyís foothold in Scotland.

Run by Scottish entrepreneur Pat Graham, Solutions for People has been established for 16 years and represents a portfolio of Scottish and UK blue-chip clients. The company was also responsible for supporting funeral directors following both the Dunblane and Lockerbie tragedies. Pat Graham will concentrate on the launch of her ëNew Stepsí personal development product from her Kinross base.

Validium, which is headquartered in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, located its dedicated specialist telephone counselling helpline centre and Northern sales and account management office in Glasgow in 2003, and already works with an extensive portfolio of Scottish based clients.

ìSolutions for People is a highly respected company in Scotland and we are very pleased to be continuing Patís excellent work in the EAP arena. With our Glasgow team firmly established we are looking forward to developing the business further,î said Mike Shaw, Managing Director, Validium.

Since Validium was established in 1998 by Mike Shaw and Anne Payne the company has rapidly grown and today works with a number of leading UK organisations, delivering Employee Assistance Programmes and HR services including counselling, stress awareness, return to work, audit and surveys, post-trauma and critical incident support and mediation and investigation.

ìThe EAP industry has developed significantly in the UK in the past few years as more and more companies embrace the service benefits. We have continued with our commitment to be on the cutting-edge of the EAP industry by strengthening the board with the appointment of Dr Wolfgang Seidl last year, and by ensuring that our clients receive a results driven and cost effective service. We are developing a number of inhouse software programmes and additional services which will help with long-term absence, staff retention and other HR issues,î added Mike Shaw.