Nursery World - Adaptability is key to bigger players

The trend towards mergers and acquisitions in the private nursery sector is set to continue and providers will need to offer more flexibility to parents, including longer opening hours, according to research by Key Note. In its assessment of the childcare market it has included profiles of the leading nursery chains, based on the league table in Nursery World's supplement Nursery Chains. Key Note looked at the corporate strategy of the companies, their profitability and any recent developments such as sales, acquisitions, newly-built facilities and future plans.

In its assessment of the childcare market it has included profiles of the leading nursery chains, based on the league table in Nursery World's supplement Nursery Chains. Key Note looked at the corporate strategy of the companies, their profitability and any recent developments such as sales, acquisitions, newly-built facilities and future plans.

The report concluded, 'It is likely that the next five years will see the closure of many of the smaller nurseries and chains, with the larger companies being able to adapt to future needs.'

At the top end of the market, Asquith Court recorded a pre-tax profit of Pounds 5.6m on a turnover of almost 33.1m in the year ending February 2003. It recently merged with Kidsunlimited which, according to the Key Note research, registered a pre-tax loss of 1.3m, compared with losses of 1.6m the previous year.

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