Category: Latest News

The McGoff Group is thrilled to announce its partnership with Stewart and Jeannie Pickering, the duo and founders of the highly successful kidsunlimited brand, and the launch of a brand new day nursery in Altrincham; Back to the Garden Child Care. The new venture is the McGoff Group’s second foray into developing new operating ventures that rely on the delivery of new-build settings for rapid roll outs to create asset backed businesses with strong operating cash flows.

It is an exciting new concept that seeks to mimic the huge success of New Care, its care home brand, which is now one of the fastest growing development-led care home operators in the UK, with eight new care facilities in delivery over the next 18 month period. The new venture will also mark the return of Stewart and Jeannie to the child care sector, with the couple re-entering the marketplace after almost 10 years following the sale of kidsunlimited in 2008. Whilst at the helm of kidsunlimited, they opened more than 50 full day care nurseries, which were in short supply, and introduced the first on site ‘workplace’ nurseries in the North West for firms such as HSBC.

 

The concept for Back to the Garden will challenge the current child care provision in the country. With new build there is an opportunity to significantly improve the economic footprint of nurseries with a design that is environmentally, economically and even socially more sustainable. The setting of the nursery is also significant. Back to the Garden will occupy a spacious and safe corner of the site, with the location strategically chosen to answer national Government calls to position child care facilities away from busy main roads, where elevated levels of pollution are more and more often being linked to hindered general development and the increase in childhood asthma, plus other health related issues. According to a Greenpeace investigation, 35 nurseries in Greater Manchester are located close to roads that break the legal pollution limits.

In addition to the purpose-built nursery, the expertly designed garden and extensive external space will provide an opportunity for children to explore and discover in a natural, safe and stimulating environment, benefiting from a beautiful landscaped setting, a gardening and planting patch, large playground and all-weather play areas.

It is this emphasis on outdoor play and the setting of the nursery that will stand Back to the Garden apart from competitors. Director at McGoff Group, Chris McGoff, says: ‘The success of New Care over the last few years, combining our property and construction expertise to acquire, design, build and operate purpose-built care homes, has undoubtedly encouraged the Group to take the next natural step into operational child care.

‘We are proud to be partnering up with Stewart and Jeannie, who are pioneers in this sector, and firmly believe that we are creating a dream team operator for Back to the Garden Child Care.’ Stewart Pickering adds: ‘It is exhilarating to be involved in the child care sector again and in such a hands-on capacity. From the initial set up of the nursery and overseeing the curriculum and equipment to co-ordinating the recruitment, both Jeannie and I will be an integral part of Back to the Garden Child Care.

‘Our philosophy focuses on the health and wellbeing of each and every child, enhancing their nursery experience with a dedicated commitment on outdoor play and activities in the fresh air.’ Jeannie concludes: ‘We want and will strive to provide the very best child care in the North West, and incorporated into the heart of the design of the nursery and its location are concerning issues regarding air pollution, which causes health problems and affects children’s development.’

Work has commenced on an innovative project that will transform an underused site on the corner of Turnbull Road and Sinderland Road in Broadheath into an attractive new community hub for local people. Working closely with Broadheath Community Association, McGoff Group has created a scheme that will result in a new community village that features a family-friendly restaurant, new children’s day nursery and the development of a dedicated new Community Hall for the residents of Broadheath.

Operated by Greene King, the new restaurant will be a Farmhouse Inn. Aimed at families, the concept will have space for 284 diners, include a small children’s play area and will not feature any dedicated sports viewing or drinking-only areas.

 

The nursery is an exciting new concept that has been designed and developed in partnership with Stewart and Jeannie Pickering; the duo and founders of the highly successful kidsunlimited brand. The setting occupies a spacious and safe corner of the wider site, with the location strategically chosen to answer national Government calls to position child care facilities away from busy main roads, where elevated levels of pollution are more and more often being linked to hindering general development and the increase in childhood asthma, plus other health-related issues.

The expertly designed garden and extensive external space will provide an opportunity for children to explore and discover in a natural, safe and stimulating environment, benefiting from the beautiful landscaped setting, a gardening and planting patch, large playground and all-weather play areas.

At the centre of the development is the creation of a new Community Hall for the residents of Broadheath. Identified as the number one priority for local residents*, the purpose-built Community Hall will have multiple uses and will be managed and maintained by Broadheath Community Association for the benefit of local residents. Chair of the Broadheath Community Association, Reverend Ian Golding, added: “It is fantastic to see work start on a project that has for so long been a dream for us at Broadheath Community Association. The Community Hall will help improve quality of life and cohesion for all residents in Broadheath; it will be a family-friendly communal space that offers a range of daily and weekly community activities that focus on learning and wellbeing and will also be available for hire by residents for their own private events.

“A list of those who have indicated their intention of conducting their work in the hall has already been drawn up. These include Scouts and related uniformed organisations, a variety of dance experiences provided by Dance works and a range of work with children and young people.” Director at McGoff Group, Chris McGoff, added: “We’re delighted to be involved with this project, helping Broadheath Community Association realise its aim of creating a new community hub. They have worked hard for many years to get to this stage and as an Altrincham-based company, we look forward to delivering this scheme that will provide the people of Broadheath with exceptional new services and leisure facilities.”

The doors to The Hamptons Care Centre, located off Heyhouses Lane in Lytham St Annes, have been officially opened by the care home’s first resident, Joan Wightman.

Having only just moved in a few days earlier, Joan, aged 92, who is from Lytham St Annes, was joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Fylde, John and Geraldine Singleton.

The Hamptons, which is a stunning 76 bed ‘new generation’ care facility, has already welcomed nine residents, who are all settling in very well. With 20 further residents scheduled to move in this month, the care home is quickly creating its own charming community.

Commenting on the opening of The Hamptons, The Mayor of Fylde, Councillor John Singleton JP, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to visit The Hamptons and I am honoured to have officially opened this superb care facility, alongside the delightful Joan Wightman. The care home is like a hotel; inviting, stylish and very comfortable, while the team at The Hamptons is inspiring. I wish all the residents and the staff all the very best for the future.”

Chris McGoff, CEO at New Care, comments: “We are thrilled that The Mayor and Mayoress of Fylde were able to take time out of their busy schedules to attend the opening event at The Hamptons. We are proud of the facility and were delighted to show them around. The cutting of the red ribbon with our first resident Joan was a truly memorable way to mark the occasion.”

The care home features a high specification finish and is decorated by an interior designer creating stylish yet comfortable and practical spaces.

The well-appointed bedrooms benefit from en suite wet rooms, while the rest of the home offers a variety of communal lounges, dining rooms and secure landscaped gardens. It also offers a host of hotel-style services including fine dining, a hair salon, nail bar, concierge and a busy and varied programme of activities and events.

Just at the moment my three brothers and I merged our growing regional housebuilding business, Villafont Homes, with the respected family main contracting business, McGoff & Byrne, in 2007, a swift step change in the market was felt, says Chris McGoff, main board director.

Main contracting orders dried up, ‘wine bar developer’ clients went bust on us and cash surpluses turned to overdrafts. Housebuilding sales slumped, banks called in all their loans, moved you to the ‘naughty boys club’ and then tried to take part of our business.

The irony was private banking manager buyers were trying to renegotiate the prices for homes nearing completion, but were swiftly told to stand by their contract. In addition, and as the tide went out, other buyers who had over-extended themselves on cheap credit card debt were crying down the phone to try to get out of their purchase, whilst secretly taking delivery of new Aston Martins. It was ‘tin hat’ time and whilst we had to firefight to deal with immediate issues, the fact that we were a lean business with four pairs of family member eyes, allowed us to innovate quickly and move development activity into buoyant sectors to self-generate our own construction activity.

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