OakNorth Bank completes loan to Little Explorers day care to support the acquisition and development of a second nursery

OakNorth Bank – the UK bank powered by OakNorth – has completed a loan to Little Explorers Day Nursery, based in Essex, to support the acquisition of an eight-bed detached house in Epping Forest and convert it into a nursery.

Founded in 2015 by Lee Stimpson, Little Explorers operated at 90 percent occupancy pre-COVID-19 and has received a number of accolades, including a nomination as one of the top 20 nurseries in London. By providing high-quality education and focusing on hiring level 3 qualified nursery practitioners, Little Explorers has managed to achieve a Good Ofsted rating and develop a strong reputation. Over the next 10-15 years, Little Explorers plans to open five more nurseries in strategic locations on the outskirts of London.

Lee Stimpson, Founder and Director of Little Explorers Day Care Nursery Limited, commented: “We’re very excited about expanding our portfolio – the first step into broadening it to several other nurseries in the next few years. Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 we were able to demonstrate Little Explorers’ successful track record pre-COVID-19, and our growth plans for the years to come. As a sector that has been heavily impacted by the lockdown, I’m incredibly grateful for OakNorth Bank’s support during this time.”

Ben Barbanel, Head of Debt Finance at OakNorth Bank, said: “At a time when most lenders are retrenching from the SME lending market, we’re still seeing numerous opportunities to support strong businesses with their growth ambitions. Since the beginning of lockdown, we’ve approved over £110m in new loans, of which £40m are through CBILS. This transaction provided an opportunity to support a nursery business with an excellent track record in terms of both quality and occupancy. We look forward to continuing to work with the team in the future.”