Nursery operators continue to grow within 'competitive' childcare market
Katy Morton
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
ICP Nurseries has bought two more settings, taking its total number of settings to 52, while a London operator and Scottish provider have both added sites.
The nursery group has bought Future Champions, which operates in Bolton and Chorley, in Lancashire - their first settings in the north-west.
The deal sees ICP Nurseries grow to 52 settings, providing more 4,340 childcare places. The group was ranked the 10th largest in the latest issue of Nursery World's annual supplement Nursery Chains 2022, which has just been published.
ICP Nurseries has 52 sites, however one setting has two separate registrations - one for the nursery and one for pre-prep.
Meanwhile, the owner of Explorers Day Nurseries, Richelle Cook, has bought Orchid Montessori Nursery in Romford. The 28-place place setting is her fourth site and second nursery in Romford. Her other settings are based in Hornchurch and South Ockendon. Together the nurseries provide more than 80 childcare places.
Orchard Montessori Nursery was established in 2006. The previous owners Mr and Mrs Gupta sold the setting to retire.
The operator of Ace Place Childcare has also bought a third site in Scotland. Alison Harkin, director of the nursery group has purchased Riverside Nursery.
The new setting joins the two existing sites – Rodger Drive Nursery & Out-of-school club and Crawfurd Nursery & Out-of-school club – both in Glasgow.
All acquisitions were brokered by Redwoods Dowling Kerr.
Sales negotiator Laura Heald stated, ‘The speed and success at which the smaller nursery groups have managed to show significant signs of recovery from the impact of Covid-19 has been impressive. The childcare market has demonstrated its resilience and sustainability in recent times and has shown its ability to meet the ever-growing demand for the provision of quality childcare places.
‘RDK understands that running a business involves years of dedication, passion and hard work. Therefore, when a smaller childcare group wants to sell, they want all of their hard work and business ethos to go to somebody who shares the same vision.’
The deals come as Christie & Co’s managing director of childcare and education Courteney Donaldson told delegates at Nursery World’s Business Summit yesterday (8 March) that there is still ‘massive competition’ within the childcare market, with demand continuing to ‘outstrip supply’.
She said that there are currently 93 sales progressing, and ‘plenty of reasons for optimism’.
- Nursery Chains 2022 is available free with the March issue of Nursery World and available online.
