Member Article

Business start-up child's play in Northumberland

Two entrepreneurs from Ashington are celebrating a successful first year in the childcare business. Lynn Wells and Sharon France set up North East Child Care Training and Assessment Centre with help from the Wansbeck Initiative’s Business Growth Mentoring Project.

Other members of the North East Child Care team include Joanne Hodge who is centre manager and the most recent addition to the team, Annette Golightly a part-time lecturer. The standard of teaching and diversity of courses on offer, including Children Care Learning & Development, NVQ Teaching Assistant and Working with Children Award, have been important contributing factors to the Investors in People Award (IIP) they achieved in June.

Lynn said: “We are extremely proud of our achievements, especially gaining this award, and we owe a great deal to our Business Growth Mentor, Steve Peart, who has been inspirational in his support to our business.”

Steve also works closely with Northumberland Strategic Partnership which has funded a two year initiative to support the growth of enterprise in Northumberland, through the Enterprising Northumberland Campaign.

Dee Stephenson, who is responsible for implementing the Enterprising Northumberland Strategy, said: “Northumberland is keen to ensure that those with the drive and enthusiasm to start up in business get the best and the most appropriate support so that they can grow and develop.

“The Business Growth Mentoring Project has assisted the North East Child Care Training and Assessment Centre with a grant to purchase furniture for their IT suite and will be providing them with ongoing mentoring support as the business develops.”

Lynn and Sharon are aiming to further develop their business to offer a wider portfolio of childcare training, including modern apprenticeships at Level two and three.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .