Acquisition sees retailers move into children’s day nursery sector

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has confirmed the sale of Pearls Poppets Day Nursery in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.

Established in 2007, Pearls Poppets has capacity to care for up to 41 children aged up to eight years.

The nursery has been under the ownership of Scott and Abbie Tennyson-Cox since 2018. They recently decided to sell to allow them to pursue other business interests and spend more time with family.

Pearls Poppets has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by local retail business owners, David Sellers and Alysha Forbes, who were keen to make the move into the day nursery sector.

Sellers said: “With the ever-expanding need for childcare, it’s great to be able to provide a quality service to parents and carers at the same time as providing lots of jobs to local staff.

“Mine and Alysha’s families are all in childcare to varying degrees, so it made sense to go down this route and try to provide a great childcare business with a slick back-office administrative structure.

“Pearls Poppets is a great setting that’s been well-run for a number of years.

“It is very spacious and there is a lot of potential to increase child spaces and to grow the business further. The existing staff are all fantastic and there is a strong management structure in place which makes the initial handover period a lot easier.”

Vicky Marsland, associate director – childcare & education at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Scott and Abbie throughout this process.

“This is a profitable nursery with a unique aesthetic and a perfect example of how commercial units can be repurposed for childcare use.

“David and Alysha had a keen interest in childcare and, after speaking with Christie Finance, we were able to establish a list of requirements before proceeding with Pearls Poppets.”

Alena Ray, associate director at Christie Finance, who sourced funding for the buyers, added: “I am happy that we could assist David and Alysha with their first acquisition, Pearls Poppets, which is a great business, and I am confident they will take the business to the next level with their unique skill sets in both the childcare and business space.

“I am optimistic that this will be the first of many, and I am excited to work with David and Alysha on their next venture.”