Head Start operates nurseries in Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Northampton and Daventry and has been operating since 1994.
The sale follows the decision by founder Julie Moinet to retire.
She said: “Head Start has been our ‘baby’ for so long that when we made the decision to retire, we were looking for a professional, reflective and experienced provider to ensure the business was in safe hands.”
Specialist business poroperty adviser Christie & Co has completed the sale to
Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group, owned by Grandir UK Ltd, a leading family-owned European childcare company.
Kiddi Caru chief executive Adrian Moore said: “We believe that the four Head Start Day Nurseries fit perfectly into our ethos of providing outstanding childcare solutions and we are excited for them to be part of the Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group. We are impressed by their dedication to early years education, their focus and their experienced staff’s on-going commitment to the children in their care.”
Julie, who founded the company in 1993, said: “We are delighted to pass the baton to LPCR who, we believe, will ensure the quality nurseries will develop and grow in the future, to the benefit of the children, staff and parents.”
Interest in the business was considerable once it was put up for sale, said
Christie & Co’s head of brokerage – childcare Nick Brown.
“Having known Gary and Julie Moinet for many years and in fact helped them in building their group, they approached us wanting to explore the avenue of retirement,” he added.
“This was all dependent on price and the quality of the buyer as they were super keen to make sure that what they had built up over the years was going to be in safe hands.
“Via a highly confidential sales process, this group attracted a significant amount of interest from numerous corporate and regional operators from the UK and beyond, which resulted in the owners achieving both of the goals they set on price and the quality of the buyer they were looking for.”
