EC English Language Centres, which now has locations across the UK, Canada, the US, South Africa, Ireland and Dubai after opening its first school in Malta in 1991, is set to close EC Bristol at the end of June and EC Montreal at the end of September.
However, it stressed it would keep a “strong presence” in both countries, with four centres in the UK and two in Canada to offer continued access across both markets.
EC said the move followed a “thorough strategic review of EC’s global operations”, reflecting a psh towards long-term sustainability and shoring up its wider network.
EC’s executive chairman and CEO Andrew Mangion said the decision to close the centres had been “a very difficult” one.
“EC Bristol and EC Montreal are home to incredible teams who have shown dedication, care, and professionalism every single day. We are deeply grateful for everything they have contributed to our students and to the EC story,” he said.
By focusing our investment on fewer locations, we are positioning EC to deliver even greater quality and impact in the years ahead
Andrew Mangion, EC English Language Centres
“At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure the long-term strength of our organisation. By focusing our investment on fewer locations, we are positioning EC to deliver even greater quality and impact in the years ahead.”
EC said it was “fully committed” to its remaining schools, as well as its online platform, EC Live. And it said it was seeing “strong momentum” across its Embassy Summer and Global Achievers Academy offerings.
New summer programs are launching in Spain and China this year, it added. Closing the Bristol and Montreal sites will mean it can direct more resources towards its strongest-performing centres, it said.
It added that it would ensure a smooth transition for anyone affected, including personalised guidance for students to help them choose other EC centres and help for partners to smooth operational changes.
The news comes amid a turbulent time for the ELT sector, with Australia noting a sharp drop in new ELICOS students and the closure of iconic UK and Canadian language learning institutions.
