Posted:29-July-2025
Familiar face steps into top role at Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries
Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries is delighted to announce Grace Cole as its new managing director. Having spent the past 11 years growing with the company, Grace has become a familiar and trusted face across the entire network – from supporting franchisees through their very first steps to helping shape the core values that underpin the business today.
Her appointment marks an exciting chapter for Monkey Puzzle, as it continues to build on its strong commitment to their franchise network, the families they support and to delivering excellence in early years education.
For Grace, stepping into her new role is an incredible moment. “I’ve had such a strong emotional connection with Monkey Puzzle over the past 11 years. It’s so much more than a job for me – it’s a community I’ve grown with, and now I feel honoured at being able to lead the business. I’ve always believed in our mission to make a meaningful difference for the families and communities we serve - that’s what’s driven me every step of the way.”
Before joining Monkey Puzzle, Grace had worked in the corporate world but found herself searching for something more fulfilling. With a background in social care, joining Monkey Puzzle was the perfect next step in her career. “I already knew the founders, Mark and Rebecca, so when a maternity cover position came up, I jumped at the opportunity.”
From that starting point, Grace quickly rose through the ranks at Monkey Puzzle, before becoming franchise director in 2020. “When I first joined the brand, we had about 13 settings. Now there’s just over 70!”
Reflecting further on her journey, Grace shares, “It gives me great pride to think I’ve shaped our policies, training and values over the years – to think how many children’s lives I’ve been part of means a lot to me and is one of the reasons I joined Monkey Puzzle over a decade ago.”
As managing director, Grace is focused on strengthening relationships across the entire Monkey Puzzle family – from franchisees to nursery teams and, of course, the children in their care. “One of the biggest lessons I’m taking away is the importance of retention in the network. Being able to build strong, lasting relationships is what ultimately creates a thriving, supportive network. I’m passionate about helping each and every nursery succeed, because when individual settings are successful, the entire network grows stronger.”
In the longer term, Grace is looking to build a sustainable, values-led network. “We want everyone at Monkey Puzzle to feel genuinely supported, empowered and part of something bigger. We’ll be looking to strengthen our operations, evolve training and refine our strategies to ensure we meet the changing needs of early years education.
“Growth matters, but it has to reflect who we are,” added Grace. “It should always come back to our core principles. I’m the biggest believer in what we do and the difference we make. Leading Monkey Puzzle into our next chapter is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
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