Vosper Thornycroft is extending its training and education interests through the acquisition of a London education company for up to £5m.

It is paying £2.25m to buy Westminster Education Consultants on completion of the deal and has agreed to pay up to £2.75m based on future performance.

The company is involved in supplying schools inspection services to Ofsted and also provides a range of education consultancy services to government and local education authorities.

Apart from its shipbuilding interests at Woolston, VT is an established provider of training and education services to both young people and adults and more than half its business is now geared to providing training support. This includes vocational work-based training, where the company is one of the UK's largest private providers, and careers advice and guidance to young people where it is the biggest.

Chief executive Martin Jay said: "This acquisition continues our strategy of developing a high-quality business group relating to all age learning.

"We believe that there are exciting opportunities for the private sector linked to the government's drive to raise standards in both academic and vocational education. We intend to grow as a major player in this emerging new market.''

Its training and support services currently focus on military support, covering all three services and includes training, plant and equipment maintenance and facilities management, while its civil support focuses on training, education, careers advice and guidance and specialist technical services.