Busy Bees expands in the Midlands
Laura Marcus
Friday, May 6, 2016
The UK’s largest nursery group Busy Bees has bought Bush Babies Children’s Nurseries, a chain of seven nurseries in and around Leicester.
Busy Bees now operates a total of 257 settings in the UK – around 50 more than its nearest rival Bright Horizons.
The increase of 19 settings over the last six months also includes acquiring Kids 1st, a group of 11 ‘outstanding’ nurseries in the North East.
Bush Babies is a well-established local chain, founded by Jane Brailsford in 1992, and with each setting rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. The seven nurseries offer 465 registered places, bringing Busy Bees total places to more than 23,000. The company now employs more than 7,700 members of staff.
Steve Eccleston, development director of Busy Bees, said, ‘Our UK growth strategy this year is to continue to expand through a combination of group acquisitions and brand new site launches. We will also continue to expand our international portfolio.
‘The main aspect of our growth strategy is focusing on the quality of the nurseries and nursery groups coming to market – having the required high level of quality is definitely what interests us most.
‘Following on from our acquisition of Kids 1st nursery group in December 2015 and now Bush Babies, it’s apparent that we have no regional preference for expansion. We are not a nursery chain, we are a national network of local nurseries and will continue to expand our portfolio on this premise. We are looking to acquire good quality, well-invested, well-managed and profitable nurseries and nursery groups regardless of where they are based in the country.’
Mr Eccleston also confirmed that Busy Bees may take part in the 30 hours pilot this September. ‘Regarding the 30 hours’ pilot – Busy Bees are currently in talks with several local authorities to consider all factors which may influence the decision to take part.’
Commenting on the sale, Jane Brailsford, former managing director of Bush Babies Children’s Nurseries, said, ‘It has been an incredible journey over the past 24 years and I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in ensuring Bush Babies is the success it is today, staff, parents and of course most importantly the children.
‘It was not an easy decision to sell my business, as this was a huge personal achievement, but working with Nick and his colleague Courteney Donaldson at Christie & Co has made the transition easier. Their support and knowledge in this sector is second to none, and they have been there every step of the way, from the initial decision to sell, to the day of the handover.
‘I am confident that Busy Bees will continue the ethos of Bush Babies and that it will go from strength to strength. My family and I wish them all the best for the future.’
Asquith and Mama Bear's
Other recent group expansions include nursery chains Asquith and Mama Bear’s, who each bought or opened a new setting in the south-west of England in April.
Third-largest UK chain Asquith Day Nurseries purchased Grade II listed The Grange Nursery in Thatcham, Berkshire, while Mama Bear’s Day Nursery chain opened a new 79-place nursery in Hanham, a village on the outskirts of Bristol.
This brings Asquith purchases to a total of 11 new nurseries in 2016, including a Montessori group and Barley Barn nursery group. Asquith now operates 94 settings.
The group is looking to expand further and anticipates reaching 100 nurseries by the end of the year.
With its latest acquisition, Mama Bear’s Day Nursery chain now operates 22 nurseries and 1,499 places, exclusively in the south-west. The chain is run by husband and wife team Tony and Bev Driffield, based in Hanham and employs more than 425 members of staff.
