Sponsored by
Award for nursery success
A FORMER policewoman has won a prestigious business award after taking over a children's nursery.
Sharon Birch worked as a police officer for 20 years before she left and took over the Footprints (Learning for Life) Nursery in Hartlepool.
The Tees Street nursery has just won the Investors in People Award after gaining top marks for staffing practices.
Sharon, the nursery's owner and manager, runs the financial side of the business.
She said: "When I came in there were 12 staff and now we have got 24 and we have 90 plus children registered, whereas we had 53 before."
The nursery has children aged up to eight years.
Sharon, 41, bought the business after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2004 and had to leave Cleveland Police.
She explained that the syndrome meant her internal ligaments had slackened.
Sharon added: ''I dislocate my big toe almost every time that I take my shoe off.
"I didn't want to just sit at home so took over the nursery."
Sharon, of Seaton Carew, puts her success down to valuing staff and team effort.
She said: "I want happy staff so I listen to them and see how I can make their lives better.
"It's about making them feel valued for their skills."
Email to a friend
Print this page- VIDEO: 999 call police car ploughs into house
- Toon target set to seal ‘dream’ move
- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Thursday, May 24: Newcastle, Demba Ba, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City deny Tevez rumours, Man Utd, Porto
- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Friday, May 25: Man city, Man utd, Spurs, Arsenal,
- Arrests after trap driver injured
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
