Business Development - First steps for Little Feet

Mother and daughter Diane and Sarah Carroll registered their brand new nursery with Ofsted last week and are eagerly anticipating the imminent arrival of their official certificate and opening the doors of their Bolton-based business.

Their recent open day was well attended, with more than 35 people signing in at the door and bringing others in with them. Both Diane and Sarah were delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response they received to their makeover of what was formerly a Chinese restaurant.

Sarah says, 'Everyone seemed to really like the environment and the fact it is bright and airy. Some parents even said they would be defecting from their existing nurseries to bring their children here.'

Little Feet is ideally positioned for commuters into Bolton and Bury, and plugs a market gap in the locality for flexible, high quality childcare. Santander Corporate & Commercial has financed the start-up with a £128,500 funding package.

Sarah reports that owning a nursery has long been an ambition for both her mother and herself. Diane has experience of working as a childminder and works in a school nursery, while Sarah has been a nursery nurse, room leader and manager in local nurseries since 2000.

'We knew that there would be strong demand for a nursery in this location. There is one other about ten minutes away and it is quite different from what we are offering,' says Sarah.

'We spotted the empty Chinese restaurant at the beginning of last year but didn't get the keys until October. I must admit on first looking around I wasn't too impressed. The building had been empty for 18 months and was in a bad state. However, my Mum could really see the potential.'

Sarah herself was convinced of its potential when the architect plans began to take shape. The building has now lived up to what the pair envisaged, having been transformed into a bright and airy space, tailored to the needs of babies through to four-year-old children.

'Pre-schoolers are on the second floor and have the use of their own roof terrace,' Sarah says. 'Downstairs we've got a large flexible space with partitions for the babies, for one- to two-year-olds and two- to three-year-olds. The rooms can be used as dedicated space for the age groups but also have the flexibility for them to come together for snack time and creative activities.'

The nursery will be opening with a total of four staff and a student, but this will rise along with occupancy.

'We are anticipating we will be able to take a maximum of 60 children and in the future we may have to employ up to 13 staff,' says Sarah.

'We are really looking forward to seeing our nursery achieve its full potential.'