Spotlight on… Freya Derrick

Ms Derrick was recently named runner-up in the Business Owner of the Year category atThe Business Magazine’s Women in Business event.

How does it feel to be recognised as a top business owner?

It’s amazing to have recognition of 12 years of hard work, especially from outside the nursery sector, but it’s really a recognition of the whole team at Hopscotch. As the sector has undergone major changes, it’s really important to be able to juggle tasks, reinvent yourself and support your staff. The people you work with are your best asset and my team are fantastic. Some of them have been with me from the very beginning and many started as newly qualified practitioners. Running a successful business requires the recognition and development of talent. Employee reward and retention is so important for the children and parents, who develop relationships with staff, but also for the whole team.

Why did you decide to start your own nursery?

I was looking for childcare for my own children and I felt that many nurseries didn’t understand the complexities of modern living. I wanted parents to be able to have guilt-free careers that don’t involve a compromise for their children. No parent should have to put their career on hold if we work together to meet their needs.

What are your hopes for the future?

We’ve got two new nurseries in transition, including a brand new setting. We are also forging links with a nursery and children’s home in Ghana. I hope it will help children and staff to connect with people in different circumstances and see beyond what we do here. One day I hope to step down, but definitely not yet, so for me it’s about employing people who challenge me as a manager; hiring people with ambition forces you to grow and develop as a business.