“Second, the number of people pursuing early childhood education degrees has declined, with more professionals leaving the field and fewer new entrants.”

Roma realised he needed to offer more to attract great talent. With a bold vision of opening 50 schools in five years, Kinderzimmer offers its employees the chance to develop their careers as the company grows.

Roma says: “What makes us unique and one of the most exciting businesses in the sector is our rapid growth. It’s led to significant advances in people development, ongoing professional development, and the creation of early years jobs that are rare in this industry.”

With the principles of its employee culture clear, the Kinderzimmer team focused with equal rigour on the interior design and functionality of its spaces.

The company contacted Kennedy Woods Architecture to explore what parts of Kinderzimmer’s original brand DNA would resonate with the UK market, what should be changed or adapted, and how the process could be designed to allow it to swiftly scale across London.

“I don’t think the role of design can be overstated in what we’ve accomplished”, Roma explains. “It’s absolutely critical to our growth, to everything we do, to our operations, and to our strategy. Our approach was to create nurseries that fit with everything we do. The meticulous attention we pay to every detail, whether in new or old buildings, reflects our dedication to creating a joyful experience and one that is bespoke to our curriculum.”