Meanwhile, Grandir (Les Petits Chaperons Rouge) has bought the five-strong Futurepath group in Hampshire, and MiChild has acquired Network Nurseries’ five north-west nurseries.
Backed by private investor Jonathan Jay, Welcome has bought Little Footprints in Swinton, Greater Manchester, a 92-place setting which closed last August. This adds to three Daisy Chain nurseries in the north west, and two Cheeky Monkeys nurseries in Essex.
Mr Jay said that the growth of the nursery group was all privately-funded. He sold a group of businesses three years ago, and became interested in the nursery market as he has a young daughter.
As managing director of Welcome, Mr Jay is handling acquisitions, finding nursery owners who want to retire or exit the sector because they have become frustrated. ‘The current crisis has accelerated the process for people thinking of leaving the sector,’ he said.
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