Nursery World - Editor's View (123)

Many nursery businesses, including some of the largest in the UK, have grown out of a parent's reaction to the lack of childcare available for their own family. Some nursery chains that started off this way have grown into childcare empires, with venture capital backing and a healthy turnover. Other groups were started by entrepreneurs who spotted a business opportunity and teamed up with others who supplied the necessary childcare expertise. We go behind the scenes to meet the founders of four of the largest nursery chains on page 4. Over the past three years, as the larger nursery groups have consolidated their positions in the market, they have increasingly brought in management and financial expertise from other sectors, as well as employing PR specialists. In order to remain efficient as they expand, nursery chains have to become more corporate, and part of this development is projecting the right kind of image. Nursery Chains shows how to portray yourself positively in the media on page 10.

Over the past three years, as the larger nursery groups have consolidated their positions in the market, they have increasingly brought in management and financial expertise from other sectors, as well as employing PR specialists. In order to remain efficient as they expand, nursery chains have to become more corporate, and part of this development is projecting the right kind of image. Nursery Chains shows how to portray yourself positively in the media on page 10.

Nursery chains have other concerns besides profitability and PR. Many, often smaller groups with strong local links, are aiming to provide subsidised places in deprived areas through the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative (see page 7). While nurseries may have become big business, many have a sense of social responsibility that can be traced back to their home-grown, family-based roots.

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