Oldham’s BrightStart Day Nursery Group looks North East for latest acquisitions

North West nursery business BrightStart has expanded with the acquisition of two sites in the North East.

Oldham-headquartered BrightStart Day Nursery Group purchased Busy Bees Day Nursery and Busy Bears Day Nursery, both based in County Durham, with funding support from Allied Irish Bank (GB).

The transactions represent the fourth purchase BrightStart has made with assistance from childcare and healthcare broker Redwoods Dowling Kerr (RDK).

BrightStart said it is continually looking to grow its portfolio, having purchased its first setting in 2008 and grown into a UK-wide business with 270 full- and part-time staff.

Last year, the firm acquired Orchard Day Nursery in Liverpool using a £3.7m loan from Barclays.

The vendors of Busy Bees Day Nursery and Busy Bears Day Nursery, the Graham family, decided to sell the nurseries due to their wish to retire from the childcare industry.

BrightStart Day Nursery Group MD Clive Barratt said: “This acquisition represents another success for BrightStart Day Nurseries and forms part of our continued growth strategy.

“We are delighted to bring Busy Bears Day Nursery and Busy Bees Day Nursery into our group.”

He added: “We are looking forward to working with both teams and to enhance the superb care and reputation both nurseries have achieved to date.”

Simon King and Gareth Bennett from the Manchester office of Allied Irish Bank (GB) worked on the transaction.

Senior relationship manager Simon King commented: “The acquisition of both nurseries in Durham forms part of [BrightStart’s] commitment to expand its footprint across the North and we are delighted to support them.”

Sarah Ellison, of Redwoods Dowling Kerr, said of the deal: “It has been a huge privilege to be involved in the sale of the two nurseries.

“Mr Graham and his family were a pleasure to deal with and with their experience and our knowledge the nurseries were sold to the first viewer after only four weeks.”