Nursery group First Friends has acquired the YMCA Nursery in New Milton, Hampshire, in a sale facilitated by specialist business property adviser Christie & Co.

The acquisition brings First Friends‘ portfolio of nurseries to five. Louise Hayes, managing director at First Friends, said: “We are excited to have this presence in New Milton and welcome the staff team, children, and families into the First Friends community. New Milton has a strong sense of community and access to wonderful outdoor spaces. It is the perfect location for us to expand our operations and to solidify our presence in Hampshire and the wider area.”

The YMCA Nursery, run by YMCA Fairthorne Group, opened in 2019 and offers 54 childcare places. Previous owner, Phillipa Spicer, chief executive of YMCA Fairthorne Group, said: “We are delighted to have found First Friends, a company that shares our commitment to high-quality early years education, to take this setting forward into its next chapter.”