A BIRKENHEAD nursery has become the latest addition to a North West-based  family-owned business.

Cosy Corner Day Nursery on Lorne Road in Prenton is now the sixth to be part of the Atherton House Nursery Group.

Founded in 2001 by Apel family duo Alice Apel and Tim Apel, the business began with the acquisition of Atherton House School in Great Crosby, Liverpool where their son George and daughter Charlotte attended.

The settings then expanded with the additions of Homeland Day Nursery in Altrincham and Richmond House Kindergarten in Hale in 2004.

In 2011, the family added Streatham House Nursery in Blundellsands, Liverpool, to its group of nurseries. In 2018, following studying Economics and Management at St Andrews University, son George Apel joined with plans to expand the business.

Acquiring Rainbow Day Nursery, Lymm in 2021 was the first step of this expansion. In 2022, George’s wife Lily joined the business full-time as Marketing & Development Manager. Lily also heads up the Atherton House Nursery Group’s sister company, Caterpillar Careers, a recruitment company specialising in Early Years to support recruitment and retention across the sector.

George Apel, Director of Atherton House Nursery Group is excited about the new opportunities Cosy Corner Day Nursery brings to the group.

He said: “We are incredibly proud to run high-quality education settings across the North-West of England.

"Our settings are each unique with their own ethos, and we know that when you walk into any of our nurseries you will feel instantly warm and welcomed.

"We couldn’t do this every day without the hard work and dedication of our incredible team, who we continue to recognise in new ways through our People Team having introduced a new staff childcare bursary, retention bonuses, birthday treats and celebrations of special events. We are so pleased to welcome Cosy Corner Day Nursery into our nursery family.”

With Cosy Corner Day Nursery joining the group, the Apel family will be able to offer an additional 50 childcare spaces taking the new total to 371 with an additional 16 members of staff. This latest acquisition was supported by funding from Santander UK as part of a long-term, seven-figure expansion strategy.

Neil Tweedle, Relationship Director, Santander UK, added: “We are pleased to be supporting Atherton House Nursery Group as the team continues to expand with its new site, Cosy Corner in Birkenhead.

"Not only is this testament to the Group growing strength to strength, but they are now able to provide quality care and education to even more children. We look forward to continuing working with Atherton House in the future.”