Mark Bates, Managing Director

Mark oversees the day-to-day operations of the business with a steady hand and a clear vision. Banana Moon was born from his own personal experience, and his leadership, passion and commitment keep us moving forward while staying true to our roots. 

Banana Moon Franchise is a proud family business – Mark works alongside his father, Mike (with whom he co-founded the business), and his nephew, Josh. Together, they represent three generations of directors dedicated to the same mission: to become The Most Loved nursery group and franchise.  

With a background in engineering, Mark’s change in career direction was born out of a personal experience. When searching for a high-quality nursery for his own children, he struggled to find one that met his expectations. Instead of settling, he and Mike decided to create the solution themselves. 

As they gained hands-on experience with their first Banana Moon Day Nursery, they quickly recognised that parents across the country were likely facing the same challenges. So in 2010, they took the exciting step of franchising the business, making high-quality childcare more accessible to families nationwide. 

Fast forward to the present day, and the franchise continues to go from strength to strength. Mark believes Banana Moon stand out from other childcare providers, as we offer franchisees everything they need to run a successful nursery. He attributes much of our success to our fantastic team, whose unwavering support ensures that franchisees receive the guidance they need to thrive. He also believes in finding the right franchisees, saying: “I’m very transparent that I want the right people for Banana Moon – people with fire in their bellies!”

Mark says his leadership is guided by the principles of controlled growth and an unwavering commitment to quality – doing things the right way. At the heart of this is a guiding mantra: ‘The Most Loved.’ We’re on a mission to become The Most Loved nursery group and franchise, the number one choice for families in the UK and beyond, and the leading franchise in the early years sector. 

Family remains at the heart of everything he does. This ethos filters down through the entire franchise, creating a culture where everyone, from franchisees to apprentices, is valued and celebrated – an ethos epitomised in the annual Midnight Moon Awards. 

Looking ahead, Mark is most excited about continuing to enhance the franchise’s reputation for excellence in childcare. With a solid foundation in the UK, the next chapter includes international growth. Watch this space… 

Banana Moon is all about developing childhood dreams, but what did Mark want to be when he was a boy? Well, growing up, he actually dreamt of becoming a chef! You could say that, in some ways, his current role isn’t so different – after all, he’s always cooking up initiatives that nourish young minds!