Connect Childcare makes senior hire to bolster growth plans

Matthew will be the driving force behind helping the early years technology business to treble in size – boosting the number of settings that use its technology from 3,700 currently to over 11,000.

As the CRO, Matthew will also be heading up the roll-out of the latest version of foundations to a wider audience. This is the new version of Connect Childcare’s sector-leading software, set to go live for all new and existing customers in 2023.

With a 30-year tenure within the data, SaaS, and education technology sectors, Matthew has held a number of executive-level leadership positions at firms such as RedEye and Cognassist.

Commenting upon joining the business, Matthew said: “There are exciting times ahead for Connect, and my role will be to ensure that we reach even more nurseries with our innovative technology – both across the UK and beyond.

“In all the positions I’ve held throughout my career, I’ve always had a focus on assisting organisations in scaling up – and I’m looking forward to using my skillset to propel Connect Childcare forward into the next chapter of its commercial journey.”

Chris Reid, CEO and founder of Connect Childcare, added: “2023 will be a watershed year for the business and it’s great to have Matthew on board.

“Our mission has always been ‘to improve the lives of children, globally’, and our expansion plans further support this.  

“Matthew has a wealth of experience within the industry, which will be extremely valuable in bringing our growth visions to life.”

Connect Childcare is already used by 70% of the top 25 UK nursery chains.

Longer term, the firm is planning to expand its reach into new sectors and geographies – helping childcare providers worldwide to improve their operational efficiencies and maximise the time available dedicated to child development.

The appointment news follows hot on the heels of a £4 million investment from Mobeus Equity Partners in December 2020, and a 55% increase in staffing numbers in 2021.