Apiary-backed Bertram acquires Enchanted Forest

Bertram Nursery Group (“Bertram”), the Apiary Capital-backed children’s nursery provider, has expanded its Scottish footprint with the acquisition of the Enchanted Forest group based in and around Glasgow.

“Enchanted Forest has often been described as an extended family that sees the world through the eyes of children.”

Cary Rankin, Managing Director, Bertram.

Bertram now has 41 children’s nurseries with 3,500 nursery places across Scotland and the North West of England, employing almost 1,000 staff, after acquiring the five Enchanted Forest nurseries in Erskine, Thornliebank, Greenock, Inverkip and in Robroyston.

Bertram Managing Director Cary Rankin said: “Enchanted Forest has often been described as an extended family that sees the world through the eyes of children. We felt their friendly approach chimed with our own and are delighted to welcome them into our own family.”

Both nursery groups are award-winning, with Enchanted Forest crowned the NMT ‘Nursery Group of the Year’ in 2016. It has also scooped an array of Chamber of Commerce Awards in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, winning ‘Best Large Business in Inverclyde’ in 2016.

Bertram, founded in 2001, won ‘Best Nursery Group’ at the Scottish Nursery Management Today Awards 2018, and placed in the daynurseries.co.uk 2018 Top 20 Nursery Awards across three categories: North West England, Scotland and Large Nursery Groups. Bertram also holds a Gold standard Investors in Young People accreditation.

Enchanted Forest was set up by Bernie and Mariessa Devlin in 2006 in Erskine. Reflecting on their journey, Ms Devlin said: “In my mind’s eye, I can clearly recall our first group of children as well as remembering their names, and I remember with fondness our first members of what was to become an amazing team of people.

“We are comforted in handing over the reins to the Bertram Nursery Group, who share our values and have a desire for quality as they expand within the Scottish and English early years market.”