US: Busy Bees expands stateside

Early years

US: Busy Bees expands stateside UK: New owner for Park Lane Kids

UK-based nursery group Busy Bees has acquired EduKids, an early childhood education and day care operation with 15 locations in Western New York state, The Buffalo News has reported.

The West Seneca-based firm has operated for 30 years and the newspaper reported that there are no plans to change the staff or the company’s name. EduKids’ founder and president Nancy Ware has said that she’s staying in place in the near-term, though her role and title have not yet been defined.

EduKids employs 450 teachers and aides and caters to around 2,000 families throughout the region.

UK’s largest nursery operator acquires setting in Kent

Busy Bees, the UK’s largest nursery operator, has acquired Sevenoaksbased Squiggles Childcare, boosting its UK and Ireland portfolio to 379 sites.

The sale of Squiggles (pictured), a family-run nursery which provides early years care to children up to the age of five, was brokered by Redwoods Dowling Kerr.

Following the acquisition, Busy Bees now cares for more than 35,000 children across its 379 nurseries in the UK and Ireland. It also has sites in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Italy, America, Vietnam and Australia, with a total of 50,000 children across more than 500 sites globally.

Busy Bees’ Europe chief executive, Cheryl Creaser, said: “The love and attention [the owners] have put into the setting is clear to see. The team provide exceptional care day-in-dayout and their mission to provide children with a calm, safe and happy environment perfectly aligns with our own.

“It’s our pleasure to welcome Squiggles parents, children and staff to the Busy Bees family. Working together, we believe that our combined insight and expertise will help us to build on the team’s success.”

Dan Slipper, the owner of Alpha Kindergarten in Peterborough and a corporate buyer, has purchased Park Lane Kids in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, a group of two children’s day nurseries: Park Lane Nursery and Woodlands Nursery (pictured).

Park Lane Nursery has operated since 2008 and has capacity for more than 30 children from newborn to five years of age.

Woodlands Nursery was established in 2012 and has capacity for more than 110 children aged from three months to five years.

Vendor Samantha Faulkner stated that she had achieved everything that she desired to within the childcare sector and reached the conclusion that it is now time to focus on exploring new opportunities in different sectors. She also believes the nurseries would greatly benefit from a new owner to introduce new ideas and a new approach.

The sale was facilitated by commercial real estate firm Redwoods Dowling Kerr.

UK: Storal Learning purchases Wiltshire nursery

Nursery operator Storal Learning has acquired Barney Lodge Day Nursery in Warminster, Wiltshire, a modernised detached building with garden, which has capacity for about 70 children.

Vendor Lynn Ashton chose to run the business under management and made the decision to sell in order to retire from the industry.

Storal Learning now has a portfolio of 15 childcare settings located across the country. Varun Chanrai of Storal Learning said: “Barney Lodge is a fantastic nursery with a wonderful team, providing outstanding childcare. It is already proving to be a great addition to the Storal family.”

Specialist business property advisor Christie & Co handled the sale.

Nick Brown, regional director and head of childcare brokerage at Christie & Co said: “The sale of Barney Lodge Day Nursery and a number of similar transactions completed during January showcase the strong ongoing demand across the country for high-quality single asset sites. If you would like to discuss your exit strategy or perhaps you are looking to expand and want to be added to our nationwide database of active buyers then we would be delighted to hear from you.”

Barcan Kirby provided legal advice.