Record investment continues for Happy Days

In April 2012, private equity house Livingbridge invested in Happy Days Nurseries, one of the largest and highest quality childcare operators in Cornwall.

Significant new investment and management expertise catapulted Happy Days onto a high growth path, with a business plan of doubling the number of nurseries over a wider geographic footprint of the wider South West.

Now, three years later and building on success, Happy Days is pleased to announce two successful development capital fund raisings from Livingbridge in 2014 and the Bank of London & The Middle East plc (“BLME”) in 2015. Both Livingbridge and BLME have strong track records of supporting successful roll-outs and so are ideal partners for Happy Days.

Ian Sanders, Finance Director, commented that “We have an ambitious growth strategy and, backed by both Livingbridge and BLME, we will have the funding to deliver it.”

As part of that vision Happy Days re-sited its Derriford NHS Nursery in Plymouth and has recently opened new settings in Exeter and Bristol. A second new nursery is planned in Bristol for September 2015 and further new nurseries are programmed across the South West from 2016 to 2018.

High quality remains central to Happy Days’ ethos, exemplified by being recognised in 2014 as one of the top five chains nationally based on Ofsted judgements. All of Happy Days’ nurseries have good or outstanding judgements.

Kim Herbert, Operations Director, stated that “Happy Days has embraced change and is looking forward to the challenges and excitement that growth brings. The key is maintaining the outstanding quality of our settings and the service we deliver, which is becoming renowned throughout the region”.

Jaqueline Arthur, Managing Director, observed that “substantial fund raising of over £5 million pounds in the last two years is enabling Happy Days’ management to drive through its objectives, working closely with its financial partners. But, no matter how successful the business becomes, we will not lose sight that the children and their families remain at the centre of our thinking and development”.