Thomson Snell & Passmore advises Nurture Group on Gristwood & Toms acquisition

Thomson Snell & Passmore advises Nurture Group on Gristwood & Toms acquisition

The Nurture Group, the UK’s fastest growing national horticultural and green workplace service provider, has completed its most substantial deal of 2024 with the acquisition of Hertfordshire-based Gristwood & Toms. Law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore advised long standing client Nurture Group on the transaction.

This strategic move marks the Group’s expansion into the arboriculture market, complementing its comprehensive portfolio of services, which includes grounds maintenance, landscape construction, winter gritting, interior and exterior plant displays, pest control and green solutions.

Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Shenley, near St Albans in Hertfordshire, Gristwood & Toms is highly regarded throughout the arboriculture sector. Known most particularly for its work in the public sector, Gristwood & Toms has built a stellar reputation for its excellence and technical expertise alongside an unmatched quality of service. With an annual turnover exceeding £20 million and employing a workforce of 153 across 13 depots, it remains a longstanding member of The Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor Scheme.

Gristwood & Toms is Nurture’s 47th acquisition, underscoring its continued growth and commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality services across the country. Thomson Snell & Passmore has acted on Nurture’s behalf on each of these transactions, other than Nurture’s three acquisitions in Scotland.

Nurture’s Executive Chairman, Peter Fane commented: “Gristwood & Toms is an excellent fit for our organisation. The acquisition provides Nurture with a profitable and scalable platform, building on our existing presence in the arboriculture market and integrate our existing arboriculture work into the Gristwood & Toms brand, creating a new £28 million turnover vertical for the Nurture Group.

 “I would especially like to thank the legal team at Thomson Snell & Passmore. Their help and support was much appreciated in bringing this deal to fruition.”

 Jason Varney, Partner in the Corporate department, led the transaction team at Thomson Snell & Passmore. He was assisted by Joe Hartland and Harry Roffey in the Corporate team, with support from Alisa Sweeney (Partner, Real Estate) and Ben Stepney (Partner, Employment).

 Jason Varney, Partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore, concluded: “It is fantastic to work with ambitious & growing businesses; and helping them to achieve their goals. It is particularly rewarding to support long-term clients such as Nurture Landscapes, building up a relationship over many years, which enables an in-depth understanding of their unique needs and aims. We look forward to continuing to support Nurture Landscapes with its future expansion plans.”

In barely 16 years, the Nurture Group has grown through a combination of organic growth and carefully targeted acquisitions and now turns over nearly £200 million. With a workforce of over 2,600 employees, Nurture has a national footprint throughout the UK.