Imbiba has completed an initial £3.5m investment into Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries. The investment and growth capital will accelerate Monkey Puzzle’s existing strategic plan for growth and provide partnership with an investor that brings value to the business across marketing, finance, property and tech.
Lizzie Ryan, Partner at Imbiba said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries. It is a sector that Imbiba has been monitoring for some time and we were drawn by the Company’s scalable business model and high calibre management team. The Company has been incredibly successful at securing off-market sites in highly desirable locations. With considerable opportunities arising with new premises from the disruption caused by Covid- 19, coupled with the increase in demand for high quality childcare provision, the landscape has never been better for a well-capitalised nursery group to grow”
Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries are the undisputed market leader in the franchised nursery sector and one of the largest nursery groups overall in the U.K. Pioneers in the childcare sector, Monkey Puzzle were the first to franchise day nurseries, aiming to help people contribute to communities through business. Even now as one of the largest nursery groups Monkey Puzzle has retained its core family values.
On March 17th, 2002, Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries launched their very first childcare setting in Hertfordshire. For owners Mark and Rebecca Crosby, it was the beginning of a hugely successful journey into the day nurseries industry. Monkey Puzzle now has well over 60 childcare nursery settings across the UK.
The UK nursery market is worth £6.7 billion, according to the latest market report from LaingBuisson and the childcare sector has consistently proven to be one of the most resilient and in demand sectors. Monkey Puzzle’s continued focus on quality, not vanity, has demonstrated a sustainable and profitable business model.
Richard Blunden, Monkey Puzzle CEO said “I’m absolutely delighted to have secured this partnership with Imbiba. From the outset, alignment of vision and approach was clear and the quality of our relationship will be central to the implementation of our strategic plan. Imbiba’s investment represents an opportunity to accelerate our vision, to inspire change through excellence in childcare, creating a positive impact for generations to come. This partnership is great news for our people, franchisees, parents and children. We are excited to start this stage of our journey with such an accomplished investor.”