Sequal Childcare is to operate Boscombe Neighbourhood Nursery andTownsend Neighbourhood Nursery from 1 August.
The newly formed company of three nurseries is a subsidiary of SequalSolutions, which operates two other social enterprise businesses: SequalStaff, which provides support workers for other third sectororganisations, and Sequal Foundations, which helps people who haveexperienced difficulties and social deprivation return to work.
'We're committed to supplying affordable childcare,' said Sequal'sdevelopment manager Lucy Culkin.
She said that initially Sequal's other businesses would re-invest intothe childcare business and the plan was to grow into a chain ofnurseries along the south coast. 'Our ultimate aim is that we expand andbring in more nurseries so that the economies of scale will make themsustainable,' said Ms Culkin.
Staff from the neighbourhood nurseries will be transferred to Sequal,which also plans to set up a childcare staff relief bank.
Sequal has also bought Harcourt Road Nursery in Southbourne from aprivate provider. It will re-open in September once renovation work iscompleted.
The three nurseries will offer a total of 140 childcare places.
