Vine Trust Group
Vine Trust Group is a Walsall-based non-profit community development trust (founded 1989) that runs alternative education, social enterprise, and apprenticeship programmes for disengaged young people across the West Midlands via three subsidiaries and the jointly-controlled Mercian Multi-Academy Trust.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersWalsall, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Vine Trust Group does
Vine Trust Group is a Walsall, West Midlands-based non-profit community development trust (Charity No. 1093838, Company No. 4370289) founded in 1989, operating a multi-entity portfolio comprising three wholly-owned subsidiaries - Vine Access Centre, Vine Education Trust, and Vine Social Enterprises - and a jointly-controlled multi-academy trust (Mercian Trust). The organisation targets disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the West Midlands through a portfolio of education, social enterprise, and apprenticeship brands, including Project 390, the Goldmine Centre, Walsall Studio School, The Ladder School, the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation, Vines Catering, The Table, and Second Chances. CEO Kevin Davis has led the group since 1997, providing unusual leadership continuity for the sector.
The group's underlying delivery model integrates three revenue-generating verticals: alternative education and academy provision (via Walsall Studio School, The Ladder School, and the jointly-controlled Mercian Trust); trading social enterprises (Vines Catering and The Table, supplemented by the developing St Matthew's Quarter Social Enterprise Zone); and apprenticeship / youth engagement programmes (Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation, Project 390, Second Chances, Goldmine Centre). The platforms are place-based and asset-heavy in their core infrastructure (school buildings, enterprise kitchens, neighbourhood centres), but distribution is being extended regionally through the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation and the emerging Mercian Trust footprint.
The business model is a hybrid typical of a UK community development trust: revenue is blended from government grants (primarily ESFA funding routed through the academies and studio school), local authority contracts for alternative provision and access services, charitable donations, employer partnership contributions (e.g. IKEA via Project 390), and trading income generated by social enterprises. The group is explicitly faith-anchored (Christian ethos) and is oriented to long-term community regeneration rather than commercial maximisation, which underpins both its commissioning relationships and its eligibility for grant funding.
Vine Trust Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vine Trust Group
- Legal name
- The Vine Trust Walsall
- Website
- https://vinetrustgroup.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vine Trust Group is a Walsall-based non-profit community development trust (founded 1989) that runs alternative education, social enterprise, and apprenticeship programmes for disengaged young people across the West Midlands via three subsidiaries and the jointly-controlled Mercian Multi-Academy Trust.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vine Trust Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
Keywords
Where Vine Trust Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walsall
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Vine Trust Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Social Enterprise Operations: Operating sustainable commercial businesses including restaurants and catering services that engage with local young people while generating income to support training and support services.
- Apprenticeship Agency Services: Project 390 apprenticeship agency placing young people with employers like IKEA. The Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation connects unemployed young people with employment opportunities through regional campaigns.
- Education Services: Through the Mercian Trust Multi-Academy Trust, operating schools including Walsall Studio School and The Ladder School providing vocational and alternative provision education.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Vine Trust Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Vine Trust Group is a Community Development Trust that runs an integrated mix of services focused on the Education, Enterprise, Employment, and Engagement of young people. It operates alternative provision and studio schools, apprenticeship placement and campaign programmes through the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation, and social enterprise catering and café businesses, all delivered through community access centres and partner schools in the West Midlands.
Product overview
Vine Trust Group is a Community Development Trust offering an integrated portfolio of youth-focused services rather than a unified technology product. The organization operates through distinct divisions: the Education Trust (Mercian Trust Multi-Academy Trust with schools including Walsall Studio School and The Ladder School), Social Enterprises (Vines catering, Project 390 apprenticeship agency), Vine Access Centres (community engagement facilities), and the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation (national apprenticeship campaign initiative). These interconnected services work together to deliver the organization's mission of preparing young people for life through education, enterprise, employment, and engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Project 390: Apprenticeship agency that connects young people with employment opportunities, named after IKEA's term for damaged stock that can be recovered and returned to market.
- Vines Catering
- The Table
- The Goldmine Centre
- Second Chances
- Walsall Studio School
- The Ladder School
- Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation
Products and services
- Walsall Studio School 14-19 academy launched in 2013, the first of its kind in the region. Students study GCSEs, technical and vocational subjects, with 60% progressing to university and 40% directly into employment or apprenticeships. Approximately 300 students enrolled.
- The Ladder School Alternative provision free school opened in 2019, providing education for students for whom mainstream schooling has been challenging. Named after the Royal-led Ladder Apprenticeship campaign.
- Second Chances Independent alternative provision school developed in the late 1990s for students who found it hard to engage with mainstream schooling.
- Vines Catering / The Table Community Cafe Social enterprise restaurant offering breakfast and lunch service plus contracted food services to local businesses and day nurseries. The Table now operates the space as a community cafe providing work experience and training for young people, founded by members of Walsall Community Church during the pandemic.
- Project 390 Apprenticeship Agency Apprenticeship agency named after IKEA's term for damaged stock that can be recovered. Operated for over a decade to recover lives and equip young people to enter the market, primarily through IKEA stores and other employers.
- Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation Campaigns National initiative championing apprenticeship creation and social mobility, with regional campaigns (Ladder for Black Country, Ladder for Birmingham, Ladder for Staffordshire, Ladder for Shropshire) and Ladder pre-Apprenticeship Free Schools. Has helped 10,000 people secure work over 10 years (2014-2024).
- Vine Access Centres (The Vine, Goldmine Centre, 105 High Street Stourbridge, 33A St Matthew's Quarter) Community engagement facilities including The Vine (original access centre, transformed former pub), The Goldmine Centre at St Matthew's Quarter, and 105 High Street Stourbridge. These spaces engage and re-engage young people with education, life skills, and commerce.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ people helped into work through Ladder apprenticeship campaigns over 10 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Vine Trust Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vine Trust Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vine Trust Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mercian Trust (formerly Q3 Academies Trust merger)coreThe Vine Trust co-founded the Mercian Trust Multi-Academy Trust in partnership with Queen Mary's Foundation. In May 2022, the Q3 Academies Trust merged with Mercian Trust, creating a larger family of schools. The trust encompasses multiple academies including Walsall Studio School, The Ladder School, Queen Mary's Grammar School, and others.
- Ladder FoundationcoreCo-founded by Kevin Davis, the Ladder Foundation promotes the value of apprenticeships and has helped 10,000 people secure work over 10 years. The Foundation oversees Ladder campaigns across multiple regions including London, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Birmingham, and the Black Country.
- Evening StandardcoreOriginal media partner for the Ladder for London campaign which created 1,500+ apprenticeships. Campaign inspired the nationwide Ladder for England initiative.
- Express and StarcoreRegional media partner for Ladder campaigns in the Black Country, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Greater Birmingham regions. Supported campaign launch and ongoing coverage.
- Performance Through People (PTP)coreTraining provider partner for Ladder apprenticeship campaigns, helping connect employers with training opportunities and apprentice candidates.
- Accord HousingcorePartner in St Matthew's Quarter Social Enterprise Zone development. Accord Housing's Shannon's view provides 'Live' accommodation component in the mixed-use regeneration project.
- Living Springs CharityminorPartner for 105 High Street Stourbridge hub/safe house, embodying the work, live, play, learn, worship vision.
- Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP)coreEconomic partnership that hosted the Ladder for Greater Birmingham launch at their 2018 annual conference with 300+ business and civic leaders attending.
- Chambers of CommercecoreEmployer Ambassador partners in the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation, representing business interests and facilitating employer engagement with apprenticeship programs.
- IKEAcoreThrough Project 390 apprenticeship agency, IKEA receives recovered young people into apprenticeships. The initiative treats young people like '390 stock' - damaged but able to be recovered and returned to the marketplace.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vine Trust Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Vine Trust Group social profiles
Digital presenceVine Trust Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vine Trust Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Vine Trust Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Vine Trust Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vine Trust Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vine Trust Group
What does Vine Trust Group do?
The Vine Trust Group is a Community Development Trust that runs an integrated mix of services focused on the Education, Enterprise, Employment, and Engagement of young people. It operates alternative provision and studio schools, apprenticeship placement and campaign programmes through the Ladder Apprenticeship Foundation, and social enterprise catering and café businesses, all delivered through community access centres and partner schools in the West Midlands.
Is Vine Trust Group a public or private company?
Vine Trust Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vine Trust Group founded?
Vine Trust Group was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vine Trust Group based?
Vine Trust Group is headquartered in Walsall, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Vine Trust Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Social Enterprise Operations are the primary driver. The others are apprenticeship Agency Services and education Services.
Does Vine Trust Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vine Trust Group.
What industry is Vine Trust Group in?
Vine Trust Group's product category is Youth Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.