employers for childcare

What employers for childcare does

Employers for Childcare is a registered charity and associated social enterprise headquartered in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, that supports working parents and the childcare sector across the UK and Northern Ireland specifically. The charitable arm operates a free, impartial Family Benefits Advice Service via helpline, email, telephone and outreach, providing guidance on childcare financial support schemes including Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit, the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme and legacy Childcare Vouchers. This is complemented by a library of information factsheets and active policy advocacy through the Northern Ireland Assembly All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare.

The social-enterprise arm generates revenue through two channels: a childcare voucher administration service delivered via the e-Vouchers online portal (efcvouchers.com) for employers, and High Rise, a single-site indoor adventure centre in Lisburn featuring Clip 'n Climb climbing, soft play and sensory rooms. All profits from the social enterprise are reinvested into the charity's mission. The organisation's go-to-market combines direct digital channels (website, e-newsletters, Facebook), in-person advice delivery, and government partnerships — most notably with the NI Department of Education and Early Years, through which it is connected to administration of the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme serving 1,924 registered childcare providers and over 28,000 children.

Name

employers for childcare

Legal name

Employers For Childcare

Website

https://employersforchildcare.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Employers for Childcare is a Northern Ireland registered charity and social enterprise that provides free family-benefits advice on childcare financial support schemes and administers childcare vouchers for employers, with profits funding a free advice helpline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Childcare Benefits Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate/Employer-Sponsored Childcare Placement (HSAAALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer-Sponsored / On-Site Childcare Centers (EDACAAAD), Family & Child Benefits Administration (Child Allowance, Parental Leave) (BPAIAKAD)

Keywords

• Childcare benefits advice
• Voucher administration services
• Social enterprise childcare
• Family financial support
• Childcare subsidy guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisburn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Childcare Voucher Administration Services: Social enterprise business providing childcare voucher administration services to employers and employees. Revenue generated from service fees for administering the childcare voucher scheme. 100% of profits are reinvested into the charitable mission.
2. High Rise Adventure Centre: Social enterprise indoor adventure centre in Lisburn featuring Clip 'n Climb, soft play and sensory rooms. Revenue from visitor fees and bookings. 100% of profits invested in the charity's work supporting parents.
3. Charitable Services (Free): Family Benefits Advice Service provided free of charge to parents, funded by profits from social enterprise activities. Includes helpline, outreach service, and information factsheets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Employers For Childcare is a registered charity and social enterprise that provides a free, impartial and confidential Family Benefits Advice Service for parents on financial support available towards childcare costs, supported by an information factsheets library. Its social enterprise arm offers a childcare voucher administration service for employers through an online e-Vouchers portal and operates High Rise, an inclusive indoor adventure centre in Lisburn. 100% of profits from the social enterprise are reinvested into the charity's work supporting working parents.

Product overview

Employers For Childcare comprises a registered charity and a social enterprise operating as a unified organization. The charity provides a Family Benefits Advice Service offering free, impartial and confidential advice to parents on financial support for childcare costs, supported by an Information Factsheets library. The social enterprise includes a Childcare Vouchers Administration Service with an e-Vouchers portal for employers, and High Rise, an indoor adventure centre in Lisburn. All profits from the social enterprise are invested into the charity's work. The organization also maintains a News and Insights section covering childcare policy updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High Rise: Indoor adventure centre in Lisburn featuring Clip 'n Climb indoor climbing, soft play and sensory rooms. Inclusive and accessible for those with additional needs. 100% of profits are invested in the charity's work.

Products and services

• Family Benefits Advice Service Free, impartial and confidential advice service delivered to parents on the financial support available towards childcare costs, including Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit childcare element, NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, Child Benefit, free school meals and uniform grants. Delivered via helpline, outreach visits, email and telephone.
• Childcare Vouchers Administration Service Social enterprise childcare voucher administration service enabling employers to offer childcare voucher benefits to employees, with online e-Vouchers portal access at eCVouchers.com for managing salary sacrifice and provider payments.
• High Rise Indoor Adventure Centre Social enterprise indoor adventure centre in Lisburn featuring Clip 'n Climb indoor climbing, soft play and sensory rooms, designed to be inclusive and accessible for those with additional needs. Open to families as a visitor attraction.
• Information Factsheets Library Online library of advice and information factsheets providing authoritative guidance for parents on childcare and work-related issues, including Tax-Free Childcare, Child Benefit, NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme, Universal Credit, free school meals and uniform grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £55 million in childcare support facilitated through Universal Credit over past year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northern Ireland Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for childcare policy. Commissioned NISRA childcare surveys. Oversees Early Learning and Childcare Strategy development. Administering body for NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme expansion to primary school children.
• Early Years - The Organisation for Young ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education. Key partner in delivering childcare financial support to families. Provides information on NICSS through early-years.org/nicss.
• Northern Ireland Assembly All Party Group on Early Education and ChildcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-party parliamentary forum bringing together MLAs and outside organizations to discuss early education and childcare. Provides platform for policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
• High Rise (Social Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adventure centre in Lisburn featuring Clip 'n Climb, soft play and sensory rooms. 100% of profits invested in the charity's work. Achieved Autism NI Impact Award for inclusive provision.
• Scaffold Digital LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party IT provider hosting and maintaining the Employers For Childcare e-Vouchers site (efcvouchers.com). Registered with ICO as data processor. Data Protection Impact Assessment completed. All data held, stored and processed within the UK.
• Cirrus IT Systems LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party IT provider for general IT support and email hosting. Microsoft Cloud Service Silver Partner. Accredited with technical qualifications for NCSC and GDPR guidelines. Data held in UK or EU/EEA.
• Northern Ireland Childcare Minding Association (NICMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished report on childcare needs of families with children who have disabilities or additional needs, funded by Department of Education. Collaboration on understanding barriers to childcare access.
• Daycare ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents daycare providers in early years sector. Director gave update on SEN issues at All Party Group meeting. Part of stakeholder network for childcare policy discussions.
• Registered Childcare ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor1,924 childcare providers of various types (childminders, daycares, playgroups, out of school clubs, primary schools) registered for NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme, enabling families to access subsidies through these providers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mumsnet: Large UK parent-focused community and information platform with campaigns on childcare, parental leave and family policy. Comparable as a content-and-advocacy platform serving working parents on childcare and employment issues.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large UK/international childcare provider offering employer-sponsored nursery places and back-up care. Comparable as a B2B employer-focused childcare benefits provider, though operating as a for-profit provider rather than an administrator.
• Kidsunlimited: UK nursery chain focused on employer-partnership childcare solutions. Adjacent comparable as another B2B provider of employer-sponsored childcare benefits in the UK market.

Direct peers

• Working Families: UK charity supporting working parents and employers with advice on childcare, parental rights and flexible working. Directly comparable as a non-profit providing employer-focused family benefits advice and policy advocacy.
• Coram Family and Childcare: UK charity (formerly Daycare Trust and Family and Childcare Trust) providing childcare advice, research and campaigning for working families. Closest direct peer in terms of advice service, advocacy, and employer engagement.
• Family & Childcare Trust: UK-wide charity focused on childcare policy, advice and research for families. Highly comparable mission (advice + advocacy on childcare costs and access) and similar policy-facing operating model.
• Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children: Northern Ireland early years organisation that administers the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education — a stated strategic partner of Employers For Childcare. Closest peer in scheme administration role and NI policy ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Pregnant Then Screwed: UK charity campaigning against pregnancy and maternity discrimination, with research and advice for parents. Comparable as a UK parent-advocacy non-profit with policy influence and parent-focused content.
• Gingerbread: UK charity supporting single parent families with advice, information and campaigning. Comparable as a non-profit providing direct family benefits advice and policy advocacy for working parents.

Regional players

• NICMA (Northern Ireland Childminding Association): Northern Ireland's representative body for registered childminders. Direct regional peer — same NI geography, overlapping provider network, and aligned policy advocacy through the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/employersforchildcare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/employers-for-childcare

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about employers for childcare