A DAD is expanding his business after bringing together fragmented areas of children’s facilities and education under one roof.

Adrian Knight, 37, who was born and raised in Basingstoke, is the CEO of Spectacular Group which builds playgrounds for schools and local authorities and provides educational classes to under-fives.

Spectacular’s playground branch creates inclusive outdoor environments since Adrian acquired the company in October 2021.

The company has won a unique project to work with British Cycling, the main national governing body for cycle sport in Great Britain, to create a custom-built cycling proficiency area at one of their major sites.

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Spectacular’s education branch has two brands that focus on catering to around 10,000 under-fives with a network of 170 franchisees across 70 locations.

While Talking Tots provides communication and confidence building skills to the kids, Jo Jingles teaches music and movement skills.

Adrian said he started his career as a Gazette paperboy when he was 13.

“By the age of 15, I had five paper rounds and worked in a local paper shop. I ended up winning Paperboy of the Year and received a brand new bike from Halfords Basingstoke,” he said.

After successfully running a student business, working as a self-employed marketing consultant and starting a recruitment company, he decided to enter the children’s education sector when he became a dad.

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He said: “During the first lockdown in 2020, I decided that I wanted to spend my life doing something a little bit more meaningful. I started by acquiring a very small children's brand called Talking Tots. That then led to acquiring Jo Jingles, which then led to acquiring the playground business as well.”

After making just under £3m in turnover in 2022, Adrian said his plan is to further take the turnover to £8m this year and £12m next year.

His aim is to float the business in the stock market within the next three years.

“We have spent a lot of time developing and putting this together,” Adrian said.

“What we are looking to do is to build an integrated experience for children in terms of helping them develop and grow as people as they move through their schooling age. And we're doing this through a combination of in-class lessons, but also building environments in terms of outdoor classrooms, and playgrounds that optimise their development and growth.”