WOMAN OF THE YEAR Winner
Judging was led by Barclays, so Ian Workman, corporate head of the south region for the bank, presented the award to Victoria Peterkin of Daisy Nursery.
“What stood out is her passion and determination, evident from an early age, to pursue the setting up of a business centred around her love for children,“ explained Workman.
Having founded Daisy Nursery in 2009, Peterkin has gone on to open three Ofsted ‘Outstanding‘ nurseries and pre-schools In North Hampshire.
While not a familiar industry for her, she has grown the company steadily, sustainably and organically never veering away from her core company values centred on quality of service with a real family feel, in a highly caring and nurturing environment.
Ian Workman (left) and Naomi Riches (right) with winner Victoria Peterkin
Role Models
She has worked hard to establish a reputation of being one of the best premium nursery brands locally. In the past 12 months the company has moved to ‘group‘ status and she is in the process of identifying a fourth flagship site. Group turnover is on track to hit £1m this year.
Peterkin has provided a major benefit to the local communities, not just through her nursery services but also by contributing to local employment – the company employs 45 people, including flexible options for parents with young families.
As well as running this successful business, Peterkin is championing improvement of the early years industry, spends time mentoring and coaching, and has helped fund further education for her team members to help them grow and develop.
Interviewed after receiving her award, Victoria Peterkin spoke about her key challenge of starting a business while being a mother of two young children.
Ian Workman (left) and Naomi Riches (right) with ‘Role Models‘ from left Sharon Richey and Beverley Sunderland
Chosen by the judges as ‘Woman of the Year‘ Role Models were:
Sharon Richey of BEcause Brand Experience – “We were impressed by Sharon‘s vision of improving futures long-term, not just with the company‘s charity work, but also through her staff development and training, explaining that things experienced and learnt with her would be taken onto other companies and shared.“
Beverley Sunderland of Crossland Solicitors – “What is noticeable about Beverley is her commerciality and very strong people skills along with her natural warmth and kindness in ostensibly a male dominated profession that can be ruthless and ‘sharp elbowed‘ at times.“
The other category finalists were: Nicola Hartland, Xcel Sales Ally Stevenson, Clean Heels Karen Ovenden, Hireserve
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2015
www.businessmag.co.uk
“It has been about sustaining high standards. On day one everything was new and shiny and my business vision was clear, but six years later, three sites and 50 staff later, I have still got to make sure it is exactly the same every single day otherwise I am not true to myself.“
So, what‘s it taken to do that? “I‘m 31 and I might have a few grey hairs and I‘ve had sleepless nights. Financially I have moved house four times to keep investing and growing because I want to do that. And, I want to keep spreading awareness of the fact that my nurseries are changing the nursery industry and I really want to be a lobbyist to the Government, and so I need to open more nurseries in order to do that ...“
SME
Open to women running or working in organisations with under £15 million turnover who have achieved excellence in their field
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