Foresight invests £3.5 million into Northern Ireland nursery group Little Rays

• Leading childcare provider operating three full day care sites and one independent pre-school site in Northern Ireland 
• Little Rays has an excellent reputation for quality care and education
• Investment will support succession to the next generation of a long-established family business to support their ambitious growth plans
  

Dublin and Belfast, 09 December 2025: Foresight Group (“Foresight”) a leading regional private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has announced a £3.5 million investment into Little Rays Limited (“Little Rays” or the “Company”), a leading nursery group in Northern Ireland.

Founded in 1993 by Michelle and Kieron Rea, Little Rays operates three full-daycare sites and one independent pre-school site, caring for children aged two months to 12 years. Today, the Company cares for c. 400 children and provides local jobs for over 100 staff, serving families across Lisburn, Ballymena, and Moira. Renowned for its high-quality, child-led learning approach, Little Rays has earned an outstanding reputation for excellence in early years education over more than three decades.

The Northern Ireland childcare market remains highly fragmented, with limited consolidation to date. Against a backdrop of rising demand for high-quality childcare, Little Rays sought investment to support succession planning and accelerate its ambitious growth strategy. Foresight identified a significant opportunity to build a scalable platform in this underserved market. The investment will enable Little Rays to expand capacity, create new jobs, and improve access to childcare for more families. Foresight’s experience in backing regional businesses and its commitment to delivering positive social impact will help the Company achieve its long-term objectives.

As part of the investment, Paula Kane will co-invest alongside Foresight and has been appointed as Chair of Little Rays. Paula founded Ashdale Care, which she grew into one of Ireland’s leading providers of residential and therapeutic care for children and young people. With over two decades of experience in scaling purpose-driven businesses, Paula brings deep sector knowledge and proven leadership expertise. In her new role, she will guide the board and management team as Little Rays embarks on its next phase of growth, ensuring the Company continues to deliver exceptional childcare provision while expanding its reach.

Michelle Rea, Founder of Little Rays, said: "We are delighted to partner with Foresight as we embark on this exciting new chapter for Little Rays. For over 30 years, our focus has been on delivering exceptional childcare and creating nurturing environments for families across Northern Ireland. Foresight shares our vision and brings the expertise and resources needed to help us scale while maintaining the quality and values that define our business. Together, we look forward to expanding our reach and continuing to make a positive impact in the communities we serve."

Ashleigh McCrum, Operations Director at Little Rays, commented: “Having dedicated my career to Little Rays and progressing through every level of the business, I am excited by the opportunities presented by this partnership with Foresight. I bring a firsthand understanding of our core values and operations and remain fully committed to driving the business forward to expand its positive impact across Northern Ireland.”

Graeme Mckinstry, Director at Foresight Group, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Little Rays, a high-quality childcare operator with an outstanding reputation and a clear vision for growth. This investment will enable the business to scale in a market that is well-positioned for consolidation, while delivering positive social impact through increased childcare provision and job creation. We look forward to supporting Ashleigh, Michelle, Kieron, and the wider team as they execute their ambitious plans.”

Paula Kane, Incoming Chairperson, Little Rays, added: “Little Rays has built a fantastic reputation for quality care and education over more than 30 years. With Foresight’s backing, we have the resources and expertise to grow significantly, creating more childcare spaces for more families while maintaining the high standards that parents expect. I am excited to work with Ashleigh and the team to deliver this next chapter of growth.”

The investment has been made from Foresight’s fund dedicated to the island of Ireland, the AIB Foresight SME Fund (AIBF) and its Northern Ireland fund, Foresight Regional Investment Funds VI (FRIF VI). AIBF is supported by AIB Group plc, as cornerstone investor, and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (“ISIF”). FRIF VI is supported by British Business Investments, a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank.

With offices in Belfast and Dublin, Foresight has raised over £74 million between both the AIBF and FRIF VI funds to invest into growing companies across the island of Ireland. To date, it has invested almost £30 million into companies across a range of sectors and transaction types throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland. Earlier this year, Foresight successfully exited Hospital Services Ltd after a transformational period of growth from a family business into a key player in healthcare distribution across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, with revenues soaring sevenfold to nearly £60 million and employee numbers rising from 30 to 175 since 2015.