Sunflower Childcare's founder expands into residential care after steady growth

Elaine Sagar, founder of Sunflower Childcare Group, is expanding into residential care after building a successful nursery business. Her company now supports around 180 children daily across two sites in Greater Manchester. The move follows years of steady growth and a commitment to community support.

Sagar launched Sunflower in 2014, inspired by the loss of her son in 2010. Her goal was to ensure every child had a strong start in life. The group now employs 67 staff and cares for approximately 70 children at one nursery and 110 at the other.

The business has grown deliberately, funded through reinvestment and borrowing, with an annual turnover of £2.5 million. Sagar keeps double the usual senior leadership capacity to maintain quality and empower her team. She meets her leadership group weekly but leaves day-to-day operations to her operations director.

Beyond childcare, Sunflower gives back by distributing 400kg of fresh fruit and vegetables weekly. The group also runs a community stand offering free produce. To further expand, Sagar joined GM Business Growth Hub's ASCEND Scale Up Programme. This step will help her transition into children's residential care, supported by a team of seven.

Her varied background—from hairdressing to international auditing and education—has shaped her leadership qualities. She aims to make herself redundant in some roles, ensuring the team can operate independently while maintaining high standards.

Sunflower's expansion into residential care marks a new phase for the group. The move builds on its existing work with young children and community initiatives. With a strong leadership structure in place, the company plans to grow while keeping quality at the centre of its operations.