The Ombuds Group has announced the acquisition of Consumer Friend, an independent provider of consumer advice, advocacy and business training.
Consumer Friend officially joins The Ombuds Group as of the 1st July 2025. This strategic move marks an important milestone in the Ombuds Group’s continued growth, significantly strengthening its expertise in consumer affairs and expanding its already established training offer of City & Guilds-accredited courses with an increased portfolio of multiple new sector learning solutions.
Founded and led by two key trading standards professionals, Consumer Friend has a strong reputation for championing consumer rights and delivering impactful training helping businesses to deliver better customer outcomes. Its highly regarded Consumer Friend Academy, which includes courses on Consumer Vulnerability, Achieving Better Outcomes, and a wide range of e-learning modules, will now be delivered under The Ombuds Group banner.
The existing Consumer Friend team are excited to join the Ombuds Group team and will continue their valuable work as part of the Group. Their knowledge and insight will support The Ombuds Group’s mission to deliver fairer outcomes and enable expansion into new and emerging sectors.
This acquisition forms part of the Group’s broader strategy to extend its reach and deepen its impact across industries that are new to its current remit. It also enhances the organisation’s internal capabilities by adding further expertise and high-quality training resources.
Kevin Grix, CEO & Chief Ombudsman of The Ombuds Group, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Consumer Friend to The Ombuds Group. This is a forwardthinking organisation working in sectors that represent exciting growth areas for us. Their expertise bolsters our position as a trusted provider of consumer insight and training, allowing us to support more individuals and businesses across a broader landscape.
“Most importantly, this acquisition is about people. We’re gaining a values-led, highly experienced team who share our commitment to fairness and better outcomes for consumers and businesses alike. I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together.”
Louise Baxter MBE and Co-Founder of Consumer Friend, said: “This next chapter is all about people. At Consumer Friend, we’ve always championed the importance of understanding consumer rights and recognising vulnerability. Not as a box to tick, but as a foundation for better outcomes.
“Becoming part of The Ombuds Group gives us the opportunity to expand that mission, helping more organisations put people first, build fairer services and ensure every consumer is supported, protected and heard. We can’t wait to get started.”
