Spotlight on ... Selina Baylis

Position: Nursery manager at the Pre-School Learning Alliance's Laindon Nursery in Basildon, Essex

Were you surprised to be named as the winner of the Basildon Business Awards for Staff Training and Development?

We were very shocked to hear that we had won. Initially we didn't take it in when they read out the name of the nursery at the awards ceremony and we just sat clapping until we realised. We've nominated the nursery for the Basildon Business Awards in the past but were only ever named as finalists.

What did you have to do to enter?

We nominated ourselves for three awards and were named as finalists in all of the categories we entered. We put a lot of effort into our entries this year. It took me three days to pull together all of the evidence including testimonials from parents and other professionals we work with. We were also visited by the judges of each category. They came to interview us.

Is the award on show at the setting?

Yes, we put up the glass wall plaque in the nursery and have decorated it with balloons for all the children and parents to see.