Wake Smith Solicitors has helped a community business leader invest in a leading Sheffield training provider to expand its services to provide essential skills for local people and children.
Mosborough-based Reverend Dave Walker, who purchased Birley Moor Garden Centre and Aquatics in April 2024, has made significant investments and renovations to the garden centre, as well as adaptations to the site including the new barn venue Grandpa Joe’s Potting Shed, to make it a community and social hub.
Now his next aim, to provide missing job-related skills and education in the area on a bigger scale, is being realised after a six-figure sum investment in forward-thinking, accredited training provider Marvel Training.
The Kiveton firm, which delivers high-quality programmes in health & safety, first aid, construction and HR, works across the UK supporting businesses and public sector organisations to meet their compliance responsibilities, develop teams, and create safer, more effective workplaces.
It will now run and co-ordinate accredited alternative provision training in horticulture for children aged 8-16 from the garden centre, and construction courses for those looking to improve their work opportunities.
The business partnership was formalised with corporate legal advice from Rebecca Robinson at Sheffield's Wake Smith Solicitors.
Dave, vicar at St John the Evangelist Church in Ridgeway, saw an immediate synergy with his commitment to the community and approached Marvel boss Ash Hibberd about backing his company to provide work skills training for local people.
He said: “I want to advance the offering to the community and enhance what we can deliver at Birley Moor. We had begun to develop a horticulture training initiative for the local community on-site, but this investment in Marvel means we can start to properly address the lack of skills, so people can grow, reach their potential and find jobs.
“I wanted to invest in an established, reputable training firm that was looking to expand its core services and help local people. Marvel sits squarely within my education thesis: best-in-class with an outcomes focussed education offering, scaled commercial potential, and a leading management team. I look forward to working closely with the team to deepen our community footprint, broaden the product offering and really begin to make a difference.
“With unemployment figures rising, no-one should be left behind in the jobs market because they don’t have the right skills set.”
Wake Smith Solicitors’ Rebecca Robinson, who handled Dave’s purchase of the garden centre last year, said: “Dave has people at his heart, and his impact on the local community to improve the environment, and now access to education, is significant. This investment combines expertise, shared values and a vision for the future with exciting times ahead.”
Marvel founder Ash Hibberd said: “As a lifelong resident of the local area, I am passionate about supporting local businesses and creating learning and development opportunities within the community.
“The chance to team up with Dave is fantastic. He is so community focused, knows his patch and makes things happen. His experience, knowledge and network means we can combine to work further towards our big goals and aspirations on training for all, and we look forward to delivering our first training programmes built around real workplace needs.”
For the Alternative Provision and supporting of South Yorkshire Schools, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is due to accredit the training programmes shortly with schemes expected to begin in January 2026 and offered to schools in the local area.
Marvel was established to deliver practical, industry-aligned training. It has grown rapidly, earning preferred provider status with multiple councils including Sheffield, Leicester, and Stoke, and building a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Its vision is ambitious yet focused: to scale Marvel Training into the ‘go to’ training partner for businesses across South Yorkshire and nationwide. This is our chance to put something back into the community.
Nationally in the last 12 months, Marvel has delivered training to more than 2000 individuals across a diverse range of sectors, including sports, education, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, the charity sector, and social enterprises.
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