The Retail Motor Industry Federation has sold its training arm, ReMIT to competitor Carter & Carter for £25.5 million.

The deal officially goes through on May 17.

ReMIT is the second largest apprentice training provider within the retail motor industry, next to Carter and Carter.

Both Carter and Carter Group and ReMIT manage national apprenticeship programmes for manufacturers, importers and multi-franchised retail groups, as well as small independent garages.

The acquisition brings the total number of apprentices on these programmes to over 10,000 for the enlarged group.

Matthew Carrington, RMI chief executive, said: “Carter & Carter approached us and the members on the RMIF board and national council voted unanimously to go ahead with the sale. ReMIT is a strong business with some high profile contracts and should benefit from the extra investment that Carter & Carter Group can make in its business.”

“ReMIT will be in good hands as Carter & Carter is a strong company, with some very good clients and has shown it can deliver high levels of customer service”.

Phillip Carter, chief executive of Carter & Carter said: “The acquisition represents a further strengthening of our position as the leading vocational learning provider in the UK, particularly in the automotive industry. It extends our network of training facilities, as well as enabling us to build relationships within the further education sector.”