Entrepreneur Mo Chaudry has expanded his business portfolio by investing in a new chain of childcare centres.
The leisure and fitness guru behind Waterworld Leisure Resort, M Club Spa & Fitness, Adventure Mini Golf and Pulse Fitness has added nursery brand Nurture Childcare to his group.
Mo has joined forces with ambitious nurse and health visitor Harriett Latham for the new venture.
The deal has seen the opening of a first Nurture Childcare base at M Club in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with a second due to open at the new M Club at Festival Park soon.
And Mo says that 'all options are on the table' regarding the possibilities for further expansion.
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He said: "When I met Harriett, heard about her plans and saw her drive and determination, I was inspired to invest in her.
"The childcare sector is a very good fit for our existing brands, and with Harriett as the owner manager of Nurture Childcare, we are very excited about what the future holds.
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"We are very much viewing these first two sites as a pilot, which could be the launchpad for a significant growth for us in the childcare sector."
Mo added: "Harriett understands how important it is to find the right nursery for your child, and has taken everything into consideration to create a high quality setting.
"I believe there is considerable scope for growth for us in this sector."
Mother-of-three Harriett set up her first nursery with her partner Mark Warrilow two years ago and had been looking for premises in Stoke-on-Trent to expand.
She said: "I am a very driven and ambitious person, and want to build a top quality business that I can feel proud and passionate about.
"To have the opportunity to work with Mo and benefit from his knowledge and experience is fantastic for me.
"We are inspired by the Montessori approach to childcare, where children from six weeks to five years old receive the highest quality care in enabling and natural environments.
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"Our approach at Nurture Childcare is holistic and aims to develop the whole child; our resources have been carefully selected to foster independence and a love for learning from an early age."
Harriett invested tens of thousands of pounds kitting out the nursery, which can accommodate up to 60 children a day, to the highest specification – using natural products where possible.
And the company has already had to take on extra staff after hitting its three-month target for customers in barely two weeks.
The 33-year-old added: "From the very outset, I was determined that I wanted to do this ‘right’, which has meant spending that little bit more money and not cutting any corners.
"We want to build close relationships with parents, and work with them to help their children learn through play. We encourage each child to be creative and imaginative while they are with us."