Shawbrook supports long-term growth for Fennies Nurseries

• Family-run childcare business, Fennies Nurseries was looking to expand its footprint in London and the South East.
• Shawbrook’s Healthcare Team structured a bespoke £22.5m facility to help fund this exciting stage of the client’s growth journey.

Established childcare business, Fennies  Nurseries is set to expand its services across London and the South East, with a £22.5m funding facility provided by Shawbrook as part of a £45m club facility.

Set up in 1992, Fennies Nurseries is a reputable day care operator providing childcare for children aged three months to five years old. The group currently runs 20 operational sites, primarily situated in affluent areas of South and West London. Their nurseries, situated on key commuter routes, cater to dual-income families in densely populated residential areas. Each nursery has been thoughtfully converted from existing premises to create welcoming spaces for children to learn and grow.

The business was looking to expand its footprint in London and the South East with the acquisition of nine new locations in 2025 and 2026. This would deliver 1,000 new childcare places, meeting increased demand and taking the total places provided by Fennies to over 3,000 children.

Introduced by Mantra Capital,  Shawbrook delivered a five-year £22.5m facility, representing a 50 percent contribution to a £45m club deal structured jointly by Shawbrook and Cynergy Bank. Refinancing existing exposure and supporting the development of the new sites, this initiative reinforces Shawbrook's dedication to the sector and underscores the Healthcare Finance team’s expertise and ability to deliver swift, efficient solutions in collaboration with valued partners.

Steven Fenn added:                                 

“This new facility will enable us to expand our portfolio across London and the South East. The new funding will see exciting new state of the art facilities set to open in Richmond, Clapham, Reading, Twickenham, Cheam and Whitton in 2025, followed by Maidenhead, Windsor, High Wycombe in the first half of 2026 along with a new purpose-built site in Beckenham. By continuing to invest in high quality indoor and outdoor environments, we can continue to create exceptional learning environments designed specifically for Early Years education."

Christos Christodoulou, Senior Director, Healthcare at Shawbrook said:

“Fennies has a strong ethos of nurture and enrichment in childcare which is reflective of the ongoing increase in demand for their services. The client has ambitious growth plans to meet this demand and we are delighted to be supporting with funding to enable these new sites.”

The client and funders on this transaction were supported by various advisory groups including Kent Finance, Addleshaw Goddard, Hazelwoods and Mantra Capital.