Livingbridge Announces Investment in Kindred Education to Support Growth in Early Years Education

Livingbridge, one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investors, is pleased to announce its investment in Kindred Education Limited (“Kindred”), a distinguished provider of early years education for children aged 0-5, through its Enterprise 3 Fund. This partnership aims to support Kindred's continued growth and enhance the delivery of exceptional, professional childcare and early years education.

Kindred, founded on significant experience in nurturing babies and young children, has 48 nursery locations across the UK. Kindred is committed to providing a safe, enriching, and supportive environment for children during their formative years.

“We are excited to partner with Kindred as it embarks on the next phase of its growth journey,” said Joe McGee, Investment Director at Livingbridge. “The team’s dedication to delivering high-quality childcare aligns perfectly with our values and our extensive experience in the education sector.”

Ruth Pimentel, CEO of Kindred, added, “This investment is a significant milestone, enabling us to expand our reach and enhance what we offer for staff, children and families. We look forward to collaborating with Livingbridge and using their team’s expertise to provide even more exceptional care and education for children and families, as well as developing the wonderful practitioners that work in our nurseries.”

Livingbridge brings over 25 years of experience in the education sector and is composed of a diverse team of professionals who will support Kindred as the company continues to support families across the UK.

Livingbridge is acquiring Kindred from Unigestion, which has been supporting Kindred’s steady growth since its first investment in 2017. Pieter-Jan Frederix, Partner at Unigestion, commented: “We have enjoyed the journey we have been on with Ruth and the team at Kindred and are proud of the high-quality nursery group we built together. Backing proven leaders in resilient markets alongside like-minded partners is core to the strategy of Unigestion’s direct funds and as such, we are delighted to make a new investment in the next stage of its journey alongside Livingbridge.”