Childcare company Busy Bees Group is set to create new jobs after launching a new benefits arm.

The Lichfield-based business has created Busy Bees Benefits, a new company which will offer a range of employee and business to business benefits. It has already created more than 20 new jobs at its Shenstone offices.

The group opened its first Busy Bees nursery in 1983 and went on to create more than 4,000 jobs throughout the UK and over 400 in the Lichfield area.

Managing director John Woodward said: “The nursery business has experienced a sustained period of growth and success over the last couple of years and so we are in excellent shape to now launch our new brand, Busy Bees Benefits.

“We are delighted to be able to expand our business once again into the benefits market, after we established our previous childcare voucher company and developed it to become the UK’s largest dedicated provider, with a great reputation for outstanding levels of service.

"Due to this success and our experience, we have an even bigger ambition for our new brand.

“Many working parents make real sacrifices to give their children the best start in life and we believe it is important that we do everything we can to help them.

"Our new childcare voucher offering will again help parents make the cost of childcare provision more affordable. I believe that the economy is going to be difficult for a number of years and working parents need all the help that can be provided.”

The company said childcare vouchers can help working parents to save over £1,000 a year on the cost of registered childcare for children up to the age of 16.