Jobs created as childcare company returns to Lichfield roots
The UK’s largest provider of early years childcare, Busy Bees, is set to open its most sustainable nursery to date in Lichfield this month, marking 40 years since the global company was founded in the city.
The flagship new centre formally opens on April 26, creating 40 jobs, and will act as the blueprint for all future Busy Bees nurseries.
It has been designed to include environmentally friendly features such as solar panels and ‘living walls’.
Busy Bees was launched in Lichfield in 1983 by co-founders Marg Randles and John Woodward.
They were inspired to create the childcare they wanted and needed for their own families, selling their homes and purchasing the Rocklands property in Lichfield, which they converted into a nursery.
Randles said: “We are delighted to be opening this stunning, brand-new Busy Bees nursery, once again providing the care and educational opportunities we wanted for our own children in Lichfield. This is a truly special moment for me as my children were some of the first to become part of the Busy Bees family.
“Even though we are now one of the world’s largest childcare providers, our values have remained the same, to provide children with the best start in life, which will be our priority in this beautiful, purpose-built nursery.
“Our team has worked hard to create a nurturing and supportive environment for generations to come. We are so excited to welcome people from Lichfield and the surrounding areas to be part of the Busy Bees family.”
From its early beginnings in Staffordshire, Busy Bees has become a worldwide success story. The company now cares for around 40,000 children in more than 390 centres across the UK and Ireland, and almost 100,000 children globally across 10 countries.
