We have been named as a High Growth 50 business! The inaugural High Growth 50 report for 2024 was put together by strategic marketing communications agency MC2, in partnership with Beauhurst and the London Stock Exchange, to shine a spotlight on some of the most ambitious businesses across the North.
This High Growth 50 uncovers businesses in the northern regions that have experienced significant growth over the last 12 months. It focuses on lower mid-market companies (with turnover between £10m and £150m) that have raised significant sums of capital, increased revenues or hired new staff.
Kids Planet has grown from two sites in 2008 to over 200 today. There are over 5,000 team members who ensure the high-quality early years education and care of over 30,000 children.
We continue to grow through acquisition and greenfield developments, and are developing into new territories, most notably into Wales in January 2024. Our focus continues to be on providing the highest quality childcare and with new acquisitions we ensure that all nurseries align with our values, blending communities into the Kids Planet family and providing excellent childcare for all.
From starting a nursery business 16 years ago with her Dad, Kids Planet CEO Clare Roberts OBE has come a long way. “I’ve always had the belief that you can do anything,” says Roberts, which explains her determination to succeed.
She has three daughters and has lived in Lymm for the past 20 years where the business is now headquartered. With its network largely concentrated in the North West, the business has more recently expanded across the Midlands and into the South.
Growth has been accelerated by two rounds of private equity investment, enabling the group to buy new sites and acquire smaller nursery businesses. Mid-market investment firm Fremman became a majority shareholder in 2021, with BGF retaining a minority stake following its initial investment in 2016.
“When other people have opinions on your business, the most useful advice I can give is not to take things personally.” said Clare. She added: “From early on, I embraced the fact that everyone can add value. I understood that different people bring different perspectives. What matters most is what the leadership team does with that information to make the business better.”
The role of private equity has been instrumental in getting Kids Planet to where it is today. However, Roberts admits: “It can be hard with private equity. You can’t operate a business of scale without having the right support structure in place. It’s like getting married to someone one day, then the next you’re already talking about divorce and planning for an exit. You need to get your head round that pretty quickly and accept that’s what they’re there to do.”
Success at the company has been down to the team continuously investing in its offer and always looking for ways to improve. Roberts tells us that you “can’t operate a business of scale without having the right support structure in place.” She has built a top team around her with experts across HR, finance, operations, M&A, marketing and data.
Not only is Kids Planet trusted by parents across the country, it prides itself on developing homegrown talent through its training academy. Roberts recognises that the most important resource in her nurseries is the team. “We aim to get as much consistency as we can when it comes to our people and have invested heavily to make sure we retain them,” she says. “It doesn’t just benefit us, it benefits the wider sector too.”
Roberts was awarded an OBE in 2022 for her services in the education sector. She now sits on a number of advisory boards and works closely with ministers to address challenges the industry is facing. Even against a backdrop of soaring inflation, a rising living wage and ever-evolving legislation, this is a family business that will always remain committed to putting children’s interests at the heart of everything it does.
Liam Buckley, director at MC2, said: “Our inaugural High Growth 50 report highlights some of the most resilient businesses in the North. Not only does it shine a spotlight on those delivering impressive growth – it looks at companies that have created new jobs and raised external capital in what has been a period of uncertainty and change.
“It’s refreshing to see the community of businesses doesn’t just hail from the northern hotspots of Manchester, Leeds or Liverpool. It highlights high-performing firms from all corners of the North, and reflects our region’s strengths in major industries like advanced manufacturing, health innovation and travel. I’d like to congratulate Kids Planet for its inclusion in the list and look forward to building this community of high-growth businesses in the years to come.”
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