A top Suffolk farming company has bought a plant operator training company in Newmarket.

Blacks of Bacton's 30-strong workforce will be boosted by eight new employees from Aurelia Ltd, which will continue to operate under its existing brand and will stay at its current site in Kentford.

Both of the companies are family-owned and well-established.

Blacks - operating under holding company David Black & Son Ltd - now contains third, fourth and fifth generation family members on the board.

Aurelia was founded by Trevor Anderson in 1997 in response to demand for his freelance training services.

It runs operator training courses for most categories of construction plant equipment, powered access platforms and industrial forklift trucks as well as lorry loaders and slinger signallers. 

The newly-merged Blacks of Bacton business aims to tap into new markets and strengthen its position by offering an even broader range of services to customers - as well as expanding its geographical reach.

Blacks of Bacton managing director James Black welcomed the deal.

"We are excited to welcome the talented team at Aurelia into the Blacks of Bacton family.

"This acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy and allows us to offer a new range of services to a wider audience. We are confident that, together, we will achieve new heights of success.”

Aurelia managing director Trevor Anderson said: “I’m delighted to have found a like-minded company to take Aurelia to the next stage of growth.

"I’m happy to say that I will continue to be a part of the business for the immediate future and look forward to passing on my knowledge to a new generation of trainers.”

The Black family - renowned for its pig operation - began farming in Suffolk in 1898, when David Black Snr moved to Red House Farm in Bacton from Scotland and established an arable and dairy farm.

David Black & Son Ltd began in 1956 - taking on the farming operations of a partnership previously operated between founders David Black Snr and his son Thomas Black.

Over the years the family has launched various diversifications and businesses.

Bacton Pigs - a wholly owned subsidiary - was formed in 1976 and continues to manage the pig business interests.

The business also includes a 3,500 acre arable operation across owned, rented and contract-farmed land.

It also owns a residential and commercial property portfolio and is involved in joint venture developments.

Around the 2000, it launched Bacton Business Park - making use of redundant farm buildings.

The site is now home to a number of non-related rural businesses, involved in cabin hire, bespoke container conversions, engineering, carpentry and leisure.

Aurelia is an accredited CPCS, NPORS, IPAF, ALLMI and NVQ Training and Test Centre. Its most popular classroom courses cover health and safety, manual handling, COSHH and risk assessments.