Nursery World Awards 2008: Initiatives - Business Development Award
WINNER: The Old Station Nursery
This chain was founded in 2002 by managing director Sarah Steel, a mother 'who thought she could do better' and has since proved she could. During the company's expansion to 12 nurseries across a 300-mile radius, Sarah and her team never lost sight of what each nursery had to be, a 'home from home'. Indeed, it is this principle that seems to have guaranteed The Old Station Nurseries their solid, word-of-mouth reputation, which has proved the bedrock of their business success.
A turning point for the chain was winning the tender bid to provide the nursery at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. Four more contracts with the Ministry of Defence followed, and this side of the business grew into a specialised service.
These nurseries face unusual and sometimes tremendously difficult challenges, with children often being without one parent for long periods, and significant pressure placed on the other. Old Station also has two college nurseries, again demonstrating the central and individual teams' ability to adapt while maintaining quality.
The 210-strong team is always at the heart of decisions and success, for example, a triumphant Investors in People assessment last year. Each setting is given independence and trust, with highly trained managers supported by the company structure.
While keeping financially stable was hard amid such rapid expansion and hard times for the industry, Old Station remains affordable to parents. Registration fees can be waived and nurseries try to offer the most flexible care possible, so parents only pay for the hours they need.
The business has also been honoured outside the sector at the Lincolnshire Business Awards in 2007, and by being selected by the East Midlands Development Agency as one of the 28 'high growth' companies. This honour means Old Station will receive mentoring and support for a year, so who knows what the chain will achieve next.
FINALISTS:
Chimneytots Pre-School; The Childcare Company
CRITERIA
For a new launch of or significant expansion to an early years service in the past 12 months.
