Childcare provider’s international growth continues with Italian deal

Childcare provider Busy Bees, based in Burntwood, has acquired Doremi, an Italian nursery group.

Founded in 1993, Doremi, is a bilingual childcare provider that operates seven centres in and around Milan, Italy, and offers places for up to 359 children.

The childcare group provides care for children between the ages of 12 weeks and six years old and specialises in providing childcare to local businesses.

The acquisition represents the group’s first landmark presence in continental Europe.

Following the acquisition of Doremi, Busy Bees now cares for more than 55,000 children across 630 sites globally, including centres in the UK and Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, the United States and now in Italy.

Simon Irons, group CEO of Busy Bees, said: “For over 35 years Busy Bees has provided outstanding care for children in local communities across the world. We are pleased to welcome Doremi to the Busy Bees family and, in doing so, supporting more children, families and staff than ever before.

“As part of due diligence, we conducted a thorough review and audit to ensure Doremi were aligned to our own vision and values before finalising the acquisition. We are confident that the team at Doremi will enhance our international capabilities as a leading childcare provider and help us to continue to provide the best possible start in life for the children under our care.”

Federica Ortalli, co-founder of Doremi, added: “As we consider the future success of the children in our care a key priority, choosing Busy Bees as our new partner was a logical and straightforward decision for us. We are proud to be working with Busy Bees given its industry-renowned reputation for excellent quality childcare, which is synonymous with our own forward-thinking approach. Over the coming months, we look forward to forging a close working relationship with the Busy Bees team and welcome their support and guidance as we embark on this journey together.”

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