Nursery World - Growing pains (1)

Demand for childcare is still high, yet the road to expansion isn't without its pitfalls, says Ruth Thomson Readers of Nursery Business browsing this year's Sunday Times 'Rich List'

Readers of Nursery Business browsing this year's Sunday Times 'Rich List'

may have chanced upon entry number 392. Name: Duncan Bannatyne. Interests: private day nurseries. Worth: 90m.

Mr Bannatyne's rise to multi-millionaire status came via ice-cream vans, care homes, gyms and the nursery chain, Just Learning, whose 21 nurseries he sold last December for 22m.

So how do ambitious nursery owners get from running one nursery to 21 - successfully? That question drew a quick and simple response from Busy Bees managing director John Woodward: 'The people' - and other chain operators echoed his view.

Own one nursery and you're an experienced childcarer and hands-on manager; own two settings and you're a businessman/woman, dependent on a good and trusted staff team, an able manager in charge of one nursery and good management procedures to keep the whole operation running smoothly.

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