2023 was a memorable year for all of us at Monkey Puzzle as we announced the openings of several new nurseries, welcomed more franchisees into our network and celebrated a number of award wins. With plans to not only replicate but surpass this success in 2024, our team is excited to see what the upcoming year has in store.
“Everyone at Monkey Puzzle can be really proud of what we achieved last year,” explains our CEO, Richard Blunden. “It is always nice to be recognised for your achievements, but we know there are always ways in which you can improve. We are committed to inspiring excellence in early years education, and we’re excited to continue on our mission in 2024.”
We marked 2023 with the introduction of multiple new nursery settings up and down the country. Our team also welcomed seven new franchisees into our growing network. Streatham Common, Stoke Newington and Cheam reopened following investment from new franchisees and settings in Seer Green, Timperley and Bishop’s Stortford opened their doors for the first time. Looking to later this year, we have announced sites in Wokingham and Northampton.
In what was a standout year, the collective efforts of our staff, nurseries and franchisees culminated in a series of impressive milestones, securing prestigious awards along the way too. By demonstrating a consistent commitment to workplace excellence, we earned the Great Place to Work® Certification™ for the fourth consecutive year. Furthermore, reflecting our dedication to inclusivity and equality, we were recognised as one of the ‘UK’s Best Workplace for Women 2023’, awarded by Great Place to Work®.
The amazing efforts of our nurseries acquired considerable recognition too, with five of our nurseries receiving nominations for the National NMT Nursery Awards. Adding to this, we launched our own festival in 2023. The celebration held last summer showcased our creativity and community spirit, allowing our practitioners to get together to provide a truly inspirational learning experience.
After a strong year for us, we are on course to sustain our momentum into 2024. With plans to open between five and seven more nursery settings over the year, we are also attending the London job show in April and September – connecting with new talent to reinforce our network’s successes of 2023.
Our tried and tested business model, allied to franchisee’s local knowledge, is central to the network’s collective achievement and is pivotal as our team looks to the future. Richard Blunden says, “our model has evolved and been finessed over nearly two decades and this framework is at the heart of our growth – the proof is in the pudding. Year on year, our total network revenue has grown by nearly £7 million, a 14% increase, which is incredible, but more importantly, quality of early years education is what drives us. Demand for our services continues to grow, so we plan to meet this need and service more communities by adding 25-30 nurseries by 2028. A key part of our growth is organic, enabling existing owners to become multi-unit franchisees within the same timeframe.”