Thu, 16 Mar 2023 | BUSINESS SALE
York-based nursery group Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nurseries Ltd has been acquired by The Old Station Nursery Group, one of the UK’s largest national nursery groups. The deal adds seven locations to Old Station Nursery’s UK network.
Little Green Rascals, founded in 2009, was York’s first organic, eco-conscious day nursery and has since established a significant presence in and around the city. Across its seven locations, the group looks after more than 550 children a day and caters for more than 1,300 families.
The group’s sites are in Flaxton, Haxby, Elvington Lane, Bishopthorpe, Minster Yard, Poppleton and Tadcaster Road. The acquisition means Old Station Nursery’s UK portfolio now extends to 78 nurseries, caring for more than 5,000 children.
Old Station Nursery has expanded rapidly since being acquired by European giant La Maison Bleue in 2019. The group has taken advantage of a period of ongoing consolidation within the UK nursery sector, driven by an influx of private capital and the highly fragmented nature of the marketplace.
In a recent report from Christie & Co, this M&A trend was forecast to continue throughout this year following an “unprecedented” amount of activity in 2022. 73 per cent of childcare and educational professionals polled in the report said they planned to either buy, sell or both this year.
Sarah Steel, CEO of Old Station Nursery, commented: “We are committed to building upon the amazing, unique ethos that Little Green Rascals has established in being eco-friendly, with an emphasis on gentle childcare and children's development through being in touch with nature across its sites in York.”
"Our aim is to ensure that every child in our care receives the highest quality of support and education possible, while fostering a love of learning and respect for the environment.”
Little Green Rascals founder and former owner Vanessa Warn said that it was the “right time” to integrate the firm into a larger group and described Old Station Nurseries as “the perfect fit” for the business’ next stage of growth.
Read more about M&A in the UK childcare and nursery sector.
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