Busy Bees Childcare moves into New Zealand

Busy Bees has bought the New Zealand-based Provincial Education group, which operates 75 settings, providing more than 5,500 places across the North and South Islands.

The acquisition of Provinical Education, the third largest early childcare education provider in New Zealand, from majority shareholder Waterman Private Capital, Ascentro Capital and its founders, is expected to complete at the end of this month (October).

As part of the deal, Provincial Education’s management team will continue in their roles.

Busy Bees Childcare has also taken over the Think Childcare Group of 71 sites and more than 7,100 places in Australia.

Together the deals mean the nursery group will operate 222 settings across Australia and New Zealand. This is in addition to 417 sites in Europe, 127 in North America and 83 in Asia.

Chief executive officer of Busy Bees Australia and New Zealand Robert Hughes said, ‘It is a great step to be welcoming Provincial Education into the Busy Bees family as our first expansion into New Zealand. We have a shared commitment with the Provincial Education management team to providing the highest quality care and education, and a strong alignment around values.

‘Think Childcare is a high-quality business and offers Busy Bees a compelling opportunity and platform for growth, while continuing to strengthen our global portfolio and bring further talent into the Busy Bees business. We are delighted to welcome the families, the staff and most of all the children into the Busy Bees family.’

Busy Bees Group chief executive Simon Irons added, ‘Busy Bees intends to become the leading early years educator in Australia and New Zealand.’ 

UK moves 

Busy Bees Childcare has also added another setting in the UK. The group has purchased Oakwood House Nursery in South Lanarkshire.

The 172-place nursery takes the number of UK settings operated by Busy Bees to 365.

It follows the acquisition of Irish nursery group - Park Academy Childcare – in September