The Northamptonshire-based group, which was established in 2015, now owns 20 settings across the south of England.
Its latest acquisition is HRH Nurseries, a group of three settings in Cambridgeshire, with an effective operating capacity for 320 children. It was brought to the market for an undisclosed sum by director Glen Perrott who established the group in 1991. She now plans on retiring from the sector.
Kindred CEO Ruth Pimentel said she is ‘thrilled’ to welcome the nurseries into the Kindred family.
‘We have got to know Glen and her family well as we worked through this process,’ she added. ‘She wanted to be confident that the staff, the families, and the children would be well looked after, and we gave her our assurance that they would be a valued part of our group.’
The sale was handled by Nick Brown, head of brokerage at Christie & Co. He said, ‘Kindred will undoubtedly build on what Glen has achieved over the years and I’m sure we’ll see this group continue to thrive and expand.’
The specialist property company has also announced the sale of Puddle-Ducks Nursery (pictured below) in south west London to expanding group Cresswell Nurseries, taking its portfolio to 14 nurseries across the UK.
Previously owned by the charity, Lifetimes, Puddle-Ducks prided itself on creating a home from home atmosphere while delivering quality care and education for up to 57 children.
Cresswell Nurseries chairman Stephen Booty, said, ‘We are delighted to have acquired Puddle-Ducks. It’s clear Tina and her team have built up a hugely successful nursery that is popular with staff, parents, and children alike, and we aim to continue to build on this good work.’
Family-owned nursery group Little Birches has bought a fourth setting, Bishopswood Day Nursery (pictured below) in Berkshire. The group already owns a nursery in the county along with two in Kent. It prioritises learning in the outdoor environment and bringing children closer to nature.
Fittingly, Bishopswood Day Nursery is situated within two acres of land and already has a large focus on outdoor learning. The nursery was established by Dawn Gillett and can potentially take 127 children.
Little Birches director Glen Jones, said, ‘Little Birches is a nature-based childcare business that endeavours to provide a superior level of care. We hope to build on the exceptional work that Dawn has carried out for 18 years and create a truly special setting for all to enjoy.’
Meanwhile, the Busy Bees Group has continued its expansion into Italy with the acquisition of a nursery in Isola, Milan (pictured below). The group, UK’s largest nursery chain, entered the Italian childcare sector with the purchase of seven settings in 2019.
Following the latest acquisition, Busy Bees now cares for more than 55,000 children across more than 650 sites globally, including Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Australia and North America.
Cheryl Creaser, Busy Bees Europe CEO, said, ‘We are constantly striving to deliver on our vision to give more children the best start in life within the UK and overseas.
‘We take great pride in our commitment to providing quality care and education and that’s why there is no better feeling than welcoming another fantastic setting to our Busy Bees family which perfectly aligns with our values.’
