Growth child’s play for nursery after takeover

A nursery operator is eyeing further expansion after completing a takeover.

Nurtured Childcare has bought Elmore Kindergarten Group.

The deal adds three Sheffield-based nurseries to Nurtured Childcare’s Yorkshire and Staffordshire portfolio.

And bosses say it provides a platform for future growth, with the business “well-positioned to expand across more areas of the North of England.”

The agreement was financed with a £2.7 million loan from digital bank OakNorth.

Founded in 2021 by Craig Brennan, Nurtured Childcare provides hundreds of places across sites in Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield, Skelmanthorpe, near Huddersfield, and Stoke-on-Trent.

Craig said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Elmore team and families into the group.

“Each site is in a prime location and is already equipped with significant resources, which we plan to build on with further investment and an expansion of extra-curricular activities.”

Stewart Haworth, OakNorth director of debt finance, said: “We’re proud to back Craig and his team as they bring new energy and vision to the North of England’s nursery sector.

“We look forward to watching their growth story.”

Nurtured Childcare worked with Cheshire-based KeySME Business Finance to secure OakNorth support.

Ash Richardson, KeySME Business Finance founder, added: “This has been a rewarding deal to work on.

“We wish the team at Nurtured Childcare continued success.”

The nursery operator received commercial legal advice from Mark Ryan Solicitors and Clarion Solicitors, with John Galvin, of Clifford Johnson Solicitors, supporting the property element of the deal.

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