Lower South Island ECE Centres Sold to Evolve Group

22 May 2017

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND LITTLE WONDERS ECE CENTRES SOLD TO EVOLVE EDUCATION GROUP

Little Wonders Childcare Group has entered a contract with Evolve Education Group Limited (Evolve) for the sale of six early childhood education (ECE) centres.

The six Little Wonders ECE centres being sold are based in some of the main population hubs of the lower part of the South Island (Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru & Cromwell), lifting Evolve’s profile in areas in which it has previously had no representation.

The privately-owned Little Wonders Childcare Group (Little Wonders) encompasses nine early childhood education centres nationally trading as Little Wonders Early Childhood Centres. Purpose built to high specifications, the centres are popular and offer quality ECE in areas of stable and growing demand.

“As owners, we are very proud of the Little Wonders centres, their teams and communities that we have grown since 2006,” said Ben Hurst, Little Wonders Childcare Group, Managing Director.

“We have been impressed by Evolve’s commitment to providing quality education and care and believe that this commitment will ensure that the Little Wonders centres in the lower South Island will continue to be well-placed to meet the diverse needs of hundreds of families,” said Mr Hurst.

Little Wonders management are working closely with Evolve to ensure a smooth transition. The contract settlement will be completed in June 2017.

“It is important to us in the transition to Evolve that the Little Wonders communities and the delivery of a quality educational programmes to our children and their families are not impacted upon,” said Mr Hurst.

Mr Hurst attributes the reduction of the Little Wonders portfolio of nine to three ECE centres to the demands of managing a national network when based in Auckland and a wish to concentrate his energies on his own young family.

“At this time, acquisition by a company such as Evolve with the requisite scale and systems in place to manage and continue to develop a high-quality group like ours made sense,” said Mr Hurst.

Ben Hurst will continue to own and operate Little Wonders ECE centres in Auckland (2) and Wellington.

ENDS

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