Precious Cargo Education called in administrators this morning, with founder and director Cheryl Shigrov saying difficulties facing the entire industry were behind the company’s struggles.
“In recent years there have been some challenges that the company has not been able to overcome that have been experienced sector-wide,” she said.
“In my role, I as director take responsibility for not being able to navigate these challenges.
“To our children, families and staff I apologise that my journey has come to a close, but ask that you work together with the administrators and I to find a way forward to preserve Precious Cargo and bring it back to a thriving entity.”
Founded in 2006, Precious Cargo operates seven childcare centres across Adelaide and employs more than 400 staff, according to the company’s website.
It is not known whether staff have been stood down and whether the centres are still open during the administration process.
9news.com.au has contacted administrators Heard Phillips Lieberenz for comment.
When announcing her company had gone into administration, Shigrov said she was proud of Precious Cargo’s growth.
“In SA, Precious Cargo stood apart with its exterior branding and contemporary interiors and was the first to offer food from commercial kitchens, to provide dinners for the children, embedded music rooms that offered extended curriculum and incorporated chickens and veggie patches to the outdoor areas,” she said.
“It was a far cry from the centres I toured in 2005.
“I relish the part that Precious Cargo played in altering the trajectory of childcare centres, and ultimately the learning outcomes for children in Australia.
“Today, I continue to have our children, their families and our staff at the forefront as I work through the administration process to a positive outcome.”