One of the UK’s most successful “rock schools” has bought out a rival.

Brighton-based BIMM’s purchase of Tech Music Schools (TMS), which runs three colleges in London, is its first major investment since securing £10 million of private equity funding from venture capital firm Sovereign Capital earlier this year.

TMS has been training musicians in drums, vocals, keyboards, guitar and bass since it started as Drumtech drum school in 1983.

Alumni include The Charlatans’ Jon Brookes and Marina and the Diamonds as well as musicians who have played for the some of the biggest acts in the world – from Radiohead to Lily Allen and The Cure.

Much like BIMM, all of the tutors at TMS are industry professionals, who teach about 750 students each term.

Kevin Nixon, founding director and BIMM group president, said: “We are really looking forward to developing the TMS brand and building on the excellent reputation it has gained as a music education provider.

“BIMM and TMS are a great match because the bottom line for both is absolute top quality in musical standards, yet there is defined difference in the students they attract with BIMM having a bandorientated live culture, while TMS is known for its specialism in technical excellence.”

BIMM was founded as the Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2001 and opened a second site in Bristol in 2007.