The Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op (OS and G Co-op) announced last week that its childcare group will trade under the name Imagine Co-operative Childcare. It is opening three 61-place purpose-built Neighbourhood Nurseries, at Rose Hill, Oxford and Walcot, Swindon, in March, followed by Cainscross near Stroud in May, adding to the two it already operates.
The society moved into the childcare sector last year when it took over the running of a 58-place Neighbourhood Nursery in the Blackbird Leys area of Oxford and a 38-place nursery in Cam, Gloucestershire.
The group has plans to expand to 12 nurseries by 2006 across its operational region of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. It is currently putting together a tender for a workplace nursery in partnership with the NHS in Oxford.
Carol Jenkins, group general manager for childcare, said, 'Our strategy now is to develop nurseries around the Imagine Co-operative Childcare brand.'
The Co-op sees childcare as a natural fit with its proclaimed principles of self-help, self-responsibility, equity and concern for the local community.
Ms Jenkins said, 'This is a multi-million pound investment.
Childcare is an ideal area for us in terms of business expansion.
'Our qualified childcare staff offer a very high level of childcare and education in a supportive and friendly environment, and a key element for our nurseries is the unique level of parental/carer involvement through each local nursery group.'
Local groups are made up of elected representatives, including staff, parents, carers, local community partners, for example Sure Start, other childcare agencies and senior Co-op staff.
Ms Jenkins said, 'The group has a real influence on the way the nursery operates, overseeing certain areas.'
At the end of each financial year each Local Nursery Group is responsible for deciding how to plough any profits back into the nursery, perhaps using the money for a day out for the children or to buy more equipment.
Parents and carers can also join the OS and G Co-op, which gives dividend benefits twice a year based on nursery fees paid, and discounts at other Co-op businesses. These include grocery stores, travel agencies and car dealerships.
The OS and G Co-op is planning to franchise its model to other regional co-ops and social enterprise businesses, which would also trade under the Imagine Co-operative Childcare brand.
Ms Jenkins said that the society is also developing ethical childcare vouchers, in line with the Co-op's values and principles, which will see a proportion of the profits ploughed back into community projects.