In June this year Bright Horizons Family Solutions snapped up Child & Co, a chain of nine nurseries with 863 places among them, based in Oxfordshire. Two months later, it bought the Birrell Collection of six nurseries in Edinburgh, acquiring a further 358 places. This puts Bright Horizons at 4,291 places, ahead of Busy Bees, which had 4,075 places in June 2004.
Ilene Hoffer, director of public affairs for Bright Horizons FS, said last week that the plan is 'not to grow for growth's sake' but to 'grow appropriately'.
She said, 'If we believe that it makes strategic sense and if we feel that we have a cultural and organisational fit with a group, we will pursue the acquisition.'
Both the Birrell Collection and Child & Co will continue to trade under their brand names for now. Susan Hay, chair of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, said that it is important that 'each setting retains its own identity'.
Lesley and Ian Millar, the former owners of Child & Co, sold their business to raise funds for Hopes and Homes for Children, an international charity which helps children orphaned by war or other disasters. They still own three of their properties but they are leasing them out to Bright Horizons Family Solutions.
Ms Hoffer said, 'Most of our nursery buildings are leased. Our model is to work with employers and local settings. What's important to us is acquiring high-quality facilities.'
Yvonne Birrell said that she had spent 'an amazing 16 years at the helm of the Birrell Collection'. She now plans to spend more quality time with her two young daughters.
