The lockdown acquisition of a Fife nursery has been completed and now a major refurbishment is planned.
Little Beehive Nursery Group has purchased the Little Einsteins nursery in Kirkcaldy’s Sang Road.
The nursery has been trading for more than 15 years and is registered to accommodate up to 86 children.
Little Einsteins, which already has a pre-school provision in Kirkcaldy, plans to merge its two existing pre-school nurseries and relocate to the newly refurbished Sang Road provision.
The group’s other site, located at Balfour Street, will transform into a dedicated afterschool and holiday club as part of The Hub Club, a primary age afterschool facility that is also part of The Little Beehive Group.
The Sang Road nursery has been closed during lockdown and so its new owners have taken this opportunity to renovate the site.
The 10-week modernisation programme will transform it into a contemporary open-plan design.
Carol Craig, Little Beehive’s director and project lead, said: “I am thrilled to have the Sang Road provision join the Little Beehive Nursery Group.
“When the opportunity was brought to us, we knew it was something that was a great fit for our business and, after viewing the property, it seemed like a perfect match for our ethos and brand.
“There is a lot of work required to get it up to the Little Beehive standard, but I am excited to get the renovation project moving.
“From the first viewing, we saw the potential the space had, and our goal is to create a modern, clean child-centred provision, allowing free play between areas of the rooms to give the children the freedom of choice and to encourage learning through play.
“This purchase will be the sixth facility in the Little Beehive Group, providing care for over 500 children in Fife and Angus.”
Little Beehive Nursery was established in 1997 in Cupar and also has facilities in Newport-On-Tay, Montrose, Kirkcaldy and St Andrews.
The Sang Road site aims to re-open in time for the start of the 2020/21 academic year.
The nursery was sold for an undisclosed sum with property advisers Christie & Co assisting the sale process.
Martin Daw, senior director for healthcare at Christie & Co, said: “I had recently been instructed by my clients Kingdom Homes to consider the confidential sale of their Kirkcaldy based nursery.
“Having recently met the purchasers, Little Beehive Nursery Group, it was an instant match to their requirements to expand their settings in Fife and after the first viewing they moved quickly to have their offer accepted.
“Formerly Kingdom Kiddies (now Little Einsteins) was originally set up by Colin Smart who owns a local care home group Kingdom Homes. He opened the nursery so that his family could experience high quality childcare and also run a successful business for the community.
“I was delighted to handle this sale during a difficult time for the sector. The fact the nursery was closed due to lockdown allowed the purchasers the time to plan and refurbish the property before they reopen.
“Funded by Bank of Scotland showing confidence from the financial sector in the childcare market.”
