NMT Nursery Agenda returned to
the Midlands on 22nd July 2021

After over a year, NMT Magazine held its first face-to-face event on 22^nd of July in Warwickshire. Our Agendas are a fantastic opportunity for nursery owners and senior managers to meet and network with sector suppliers.

The event kicked off with welcomes from NMT’s editor-in-chief, Richard Hawkins, managing director, Vernon Baxter and editor, Briony Richter before the attendees started off with the first set of meetings.

Business focused meetings

A popular and key feature of NMT Agendas is the prearranged business meetings between providers and suppliers. The business meetings took place in a large meeting area and each one lasted 15 minutes. The suppliers stay fixed at their tables while the nursery owners and managers circulate between them.

The meetings were split between the morning and afternoon with a great selection of meals to pick from the buffet lunch.

After lunch and another set of productive meetings, the day moved to the Hot Topics discussion. Given that it had been so long since seeing colleagues, it was a great chance to address some of the key challenges the sector had been facing but also the positives that had come out of the last 18 months. Going round the group we heard from nursery owners and senior managers on how to maximise recruitment and retention. Cheryl Hadland, managing director of Tops Days Nurseries and Julie Norris, director of Crazy 4 Kids both highlighted the concerning numbers of staff leaving the sector and the difficulties of recruiting new and qualified staff. Recruitment and retention has been a problem in the sector for decades, however the pandemic has shone a light on the cracks in the system.

That being said, there was some positivity across the sector. Nick Brown, director & head of brokerage – Childcare & Education UK, Christie & Co remarked that the sector as a whole is showing very strong signs of growth in just the first half of this year. Despite the very real challenges that operators are facing, the sector is still a very attractive one for investors. Deals are bouncing back at pre-Covid levels and rather than a fall in demand, it has been more of a geographical shift from big cities to more rural and suburb areas.

We rounded off the day with a cheese tasting and drinks reception, well deserved after busy day of business.

A massive thank you to the suppliers and sponsors who supported this event and continue to support NMT. Looking forward to the next one.

Many thanks to our Drinks Reception and Cheese Tasting Sponsors

Testimonials

‘Very well organised ‘speed-dating’ style meetings with suppliers. Great opportunity to speak to other nursery providers and professionals and hear their experiences and share good practice. Enjoyed the food and drink on offer, lovely hotel and staff. NMT team were brilliantly organised and professional.’ – Anna Gent, Quality and training manager, Snapdragons Nursery

‘A great event, always brilliant and ran by great people.’ – Lucy Evans, Manager, Harley Street Nursery

‘The Hot topics session is always the highlight. To have suppliers and setting Managers as well as others all contributing to a debate of topical issues is really inspirational.’ -Madresfield and Worcester Early Years Centres

‘Thoroughly enjoyable and informative event which is always so well run and organised. To speak with so many providers in one day with such a high level of engagement was amazing. Thanks NMT for another successful event.’ – Dawn Cripps, Business development manager, Morton Michel

Get in touch with the team!

• If you are a nursery owner / managing director / operations director and would like to attend this event or future agendas, please contact Caroline Bowern, email: [email protected] 
• If you are a supplier and would like to book space or a sponsorship package for this event or future agendas, please contact Caroline Bowern, email: [email protected]