Foresight invests in Mulberry Bush Nursery Group to support growth across the North of England

• Mulberry Bush Nursery Group is a high-quality nursery operator with five settings across Greater Manchester.
• It provides 460 childcare places and employs approximately 200 people across its portfolio of five nurseries.
• The investment will support a buy-and-build strategy across the North of England, expanding access to high-quality early years education and childcare.
• Experienced childcare executive Cary Rankin will join as CEO, supported by Chair Joy Chamberlain and existing owner Jo Kinloch as an adviser to the Board.
  

Manchester, 01st October 2026: Foresight Group ("Foresight"), a leading regional private equity and real assets investment manager, has announced an investment in Mulberry Bush Nursery Group ("Mulberry Bush" or the "Group"), a high-quality nursery operator providing early years education and childcare across Greater Manchester.

Founded in 1990 by the Robinson family, Mulberry Bush has established a strong reputation for delivering high-quality childcare and early years education to local communities. Today, the Group operates five nursery settings across North Manchester, providing 460 registered childcare places and employing approximately 200 team members. The business has a strong track record of delivering high-quality outcomes for children and families, reflected in its Ofsted profile, with three settings rated Outstanding and two rated Good. Mulberry Bush is sector leading in terms of its commitment to high-quality care, having won multiple industry awards and has built an outstanding reputation for excellence in early years education for the last 36 years.

The investment provides a succession solution for the existing shareholders while enabling the next phase of growth for the business. Existing owners Jo Kinloch, Paul Robinson and Andy Robinson will continue to support the Group, with Jo Kinloch remaining actively involved as an adviser to the Board. The transaction brings together an experienced leadership team, including incoming CEO Cary Rankin, a highly regarded operator within the childcare sector, with the aim of building one of the leading regional nursery groups in the North of England.

Foresight's investment will support Mulberry Bush's ambitious growth plans through a combination of organic development and strategic acquisitions across the North of England. Alongside the initial investment, Foresight has committed significant capital and expects to provide additional follow-on funding to support the Group's acquisitive growth strategy as it seeks to build a leading regional nursery platform. The Group is well positioned to benefit from continued demand for high-quality childcare provision whilst expanding its reach into additional communities and creating new employment opportunities across the region.

The strengthened Board includes newly appointed Chair Joy Chamberlain, who brings significant executive and non-executive experience across regulated, multi-site consumer services businesses, alongside incoming CFO, Zoe Collins. Foresight will also leverage its wider childcare sector expertise and network to support Mulberry Bush's growth strategy.

Jo Kinloch, Adviser to the Board of Mulberry Bush Nursery Group, said: "Mulberry Bush has been at the heart of our local community for the last 36 years and we are incredibly proud of the reputation we have built for delivering outstanding childcare and early years education. We would like to thank our incredible team for their hard work, commitment and dedication to the high standards of care which we have always been proud to provide for the children in our care. We would also like to thank all of the families who have placed their trust in us, and especially their children who have always been at the heart of everything we have set out to do. We were looking for a partner who shared our values and had the expertise to support the next chapter of growth, while preserving the culture and quality that make the business special. Foresight's experience in supporting growing regional businesses made them a natural choice, and I look forward to continuing to support the Group as it embarks on this exciting next phase."

Cary Rankin, CEO of Mulberry Bush Nursery Group, said: "Having spent over a decade in this sector, I know that a reputation like Mulberry Bush's is built over many years, not handed over, and this is a business shaped by the Robinson family and their team since 1990, with a strong foundation to build from. My priority in these early months is to properly understand what already makes it work so well, from the team and settings to the standard of care that families expect, before shaping what comes next. With Foresight's support, we also have a real opportunity to grow, investing in our people and extending that same quality to more communities across the North of England”

Sophie Clough, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight Group, commented: "Mulberry Bush is a well-established and highly respected nursery group with an impressive track record of providing high-quality childcare across Greater Manchester. The business has strong foundations and a clear opportunity to build scale through both organic growth and acquisitions. We are delighted to be partnering with the existing Mulberry Bush team alongside the new senior hires and look forward to supporting its continued expansion, helping increase access to high-quality childcare provision across the North of England."