First steps for nursery management buyout team

SOUTH Yorkshire-based Cliff Nursery Silkstone has been bought in a management buy-out (MBO) from its owner Alpha Plus Group.

The nursery, which was recently rated as outstanding by Ofsted, provides care for children aged between six weeks and five years.

The MBO for an undisclosed sum was headed by Julie Herbert

Sheffield firms Strategic Corporate Finance and Ironmonger Curtis acted as lead deal advisers and legal advisers for Mrs Herbert respectively.

Andrew Coates of Strategic said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Julie and her team – the nursery has flourished under her management and this can only continue now it is an independent business.”

Mrs Herbert joined Cliff Nursery Silkstone as head in 2005 and since then has successfully doubled the size of the business in terms of session numbers and firmly established the nursery as one of the best in the region.

She said: “Having no experience previously of buying a business it was comforting to have the support and expertise of Strategic Corporate Finance and Ironmonger Curtis.

“They made a potentially stressful process smooth and exciting. We are all now looking forward to continuing to provide high quality nursery education in a loving and caring environment.”