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The mumandworking 2010 awards
"Promoting flexible working is important so families have essential time together. I'm delighted the mumandworking 2010 awards are going all out to praise the businesses and people who are making this possible for parents across the UK. I encourage you to get involved and to lead the way in what is the biggest revolution in employment in recent years. I'm very proud that I can support this programme and the mumandworking website." - Sarah Beeny, TV presenter, author, entrepreneur and Mum.
mumandworking 2010 awards
Our WINNERS have now been announced
Welcome to our 2010 mumandworking awards to reward and recognise the companies and individuals that make flexible working possible and show that family-friendly employment not only supports family life but give real benefits to the companies involved.
We are delighted to have the support from the amazing Sarah Beeny and the many sponsors that have given us time and resources to make our 2010 mumandworking awards possible. We urge you to take a moment to click on their links on this page and support them as they are supporting our awards.
Building on the success of our What's On 4 awards we are introducing this new awards programme to recognise working parents, flexible employers and parents in business.
We're very excited about this as we know first-hand the challenges that parenthood, running a business and working brings.
We meet amazing individuals every day that are proving that flexible, family-friendly employment does work and we want to applaud the people and companies that are making this happen.
All our finalists plus many other supporters of flexible working joined us at the stunning Hilton St Anne's Manor near Bracknell for a very special awards ceremony held on 4th November.
Winners and Award Categories
All our awards are about flexible employment especially family-friendly employment. We recognise all types of flexible employment whether you are an employee, company or a small business owner. Our judges were looking for real, everyday stories where flexible employment is working and proving that having family-friendly approach can be a real asset to a company.
Congratulations to all our winners and finalists who are the best of the best!
Will you be a winner next year? Get ready now with How to win Business Awards
Business Parent of the Year sponsored by RSM Tenon
Open to any parent who has their own business. A parent that has created their own flexible employment by starting their own business and has achieved this and more! The winner received a luxury spa weekend for two at Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa worth £660.
WINNER Claire O'Connor babyballet
View All Finalists >>>>
Self-Employed Parent of the Year
Open to any parent who is registered self-employed. A parent that has overcome many challenges to work for themselves but had created their own flexible employment. The winner received a Candoo Concierge & Lifestyle Management Service for 1 year worth £250 and an advertising campaign with What's On 4 worth atleast £250!
We are delighted that the well-known baby expert Jo Tantum will present this award at our awards ceremony on 4th November. Jo said "I'm proud to support mumandworking...and an honour to present an award."
WINNER Amanda Farren Ella Announcements
View All Finalists >>>>
Company of the Year sponsored by Hilton
Open to any company who actively promotes exceptionally family-friendly and flexible working policies to it's team. The winner received a family leisure weekend at Hilton St Anne's Manor including tickets to Legoland, Windsor.
WINNER HippyChick
View All Finalists >>>>
Franchisor of the Year sponsored by whatson4me.co.uk
Open to any franchisor who actively promotes exceptionally family-friendly and flexible working policies to it's franchisees. The winner received an recruitment campaign on mumandworking worth over £500!
WINNER babyballet
View All Finalists >>>>
Working Parent of the Year sponsored by Tepilo.com
For companies and colleagues to nominate a parent who clearly demonstrates the asset that working parents are to any business with their dedication, enthusiasm and hard work. The winner received an Evening Bliss health spa pampering session at the Sanctuary in Covent Garden including treatment, dinner and Sanctuary gift!
WINNER Sabina Iqbal Islington Council & Deaf Parenting UK
View All Finalists >>>>
Franchisee of the Year
For companies and colleagues to nominate a franchisee who clearly demonstrates how a flexible franchise can bring out the best in individuals for the benefit of their families and customers. The winner received an advertising campaign with What's On 4 worth atleast £250!
WINNER Beckie Clifton, Jo Jingles
View All Finalists >>>>
Judging
Thank you to our team of 5 well-respected judges who excel in key areas of employment and business, and most importantly they are all parents that have found flexible careers to fit around their own families.
Awards Ceremony
Our finalists and supports attended the glamorous awards ceremony on 4th November 2010 at the beautiful Hilton St Anne's Manor near Bracknell who literally laid on the red carpert.
This inspiring presentation event included a karate demonstration from 3rd Dan Black Belt (and Mum) Lindsey Andrews from Shin Gi Tai and speeches from Sarah Beeny, Jo Tantum and our sponsors.
We were also treated to a delicious 3 course lunch and champagne provided by Hilton Hotels. Everyone took away a bag stuffed with amazing goodies including lip balms, face packs, Organix snacks, Konfidence swimming aids and charity 'Mum' tattoos!
And most importantly we all were in awe of the amazing stories from our finalists and winners. What a fabulous few hours!
A huge thank you to the sponsors and supporters of our 2010 awards. Without them our awards would not be possible and we are extremely grateful for their support. There are some opportunities still available, please click here for more details.
HiltonHilton St. Anne's Manor is only 45 min from London and surrounded by historic sites and beautiful countryside. Set within 25 acres of peaceful woodland and gardens, this beautiful hotel has impressive facilities for both business and pleasure. It offers a range of meeting and conference rooms as well as exciting leisure activities with Windsor Castle, Henley-on-Thames, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Hampton Court being just a few of the nearby attractions.
Indulge in aromatherapy treatment and dine on contemporary gastro favourites in our new Omnia restaurant for a girly pamper weekend, ormake use of the interconnecting rooms, delightful grounds and the fun children's play area for the perfect getaway for all the family.
For more information, please visit hilton.co.uk/stannesmanor.
RSM Tenon
RSM Tenon is the seventh largest accountancy and business advisory firm in the UK, providing advice to a national client base that ranges from individuals and owner-managed businesses to larger, corporate and public sector organisations. In the South we have offices in Windsor, Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Swindon and Bristol, as well as offices across London.
RSM Tenon understands that wherever you are with your business – starting out or growing your venture - it’s important to ensure you find the right work / life balance, this is true for all but particularly so for working mums.
With the majority of mothers now being in full or part-time employment and more than 30% of businesses being owned by women*, it’s important that you have the professional advice needed to run your business smoothly, minimising the daily stresses and giving you more time to spend with your family.
We are one of the most progressive and entrepreneurial professional services firms in the UK today, with leadership in the provision of accounting and assurance, tax, corporate finance, financial management and business advisory services.
As previous winners of the ‘Employer of the Year’ Award in the "Basingstoke Place to be Proud of Awards", RSM Tenon understands the importance of supporting working parents by offering family friendly employment terms including flexible working hours and home working as well as benefits such as tax efficient childcare voucher schemes.
RSM Tenon has vast experience in advising family run businesses and successful entrepreneurs. With more women now than ever before opting to start their own business RSM Tenon can provide the advice you need to help you fulfil your personal ambitions and business aspirations.*2008 Office of National Statistics
whatson4me.co.uk
The What’s On 4 Me website www.whatson4me.co.uk is the 4th Website in the What’s On 4 range. We provide an on-line directory of clubs, groups, classes and resources for adults across the UK. There’s a wealth of "Information and Inspiration" for adults looking for activities in their local community and, like our existing sites, What’s On 4 Me provides a remarkably quick and simple site to easily find up-to-date information.
The site is run by local people and promotes local communities by offering free advertising for many free activities and provides real insights, by real people, to inspire and advise!With this information at your finger tips – you need never waste your "Me time" again!
And you can even be the one to launch www.whatson4me.co.uk in your area! Contact us now for a 100% home-based, part-time franchise opportunity.
Tepilo is Sarah Beeny’s alternative way to buy, sell or let your property and it's free. You maintain 100% control and pay 0% commission! Get practical advice on how to make the most of your property through design, negotiation and marketing and sell or let your property saving thousands of pounds in the process.
- Tepilo is completely free to use - with no charges for uploading your property or commission to pay.
- Tepilo makes it easy for you - the site is packed with advice on buying and selling, and now letting a property, including a library of hints and tips that we are constantly updating.
- Tepilo provides practical profit enhancing tips - the "design for profit" section lays out ideas on how to design your house to maximise your profit.
- Tepilo encourages the personal touch - using owner descriptions and a magazine style layout, Tepilo aims to give buyers and tenants much more of an insight into what's great about each property.
- Ask Sarah - if you get stuck you can even ask Sarah a question directly through Tepilo.
Try it for yourself and upload your property today! Visit www.tepilo.com
Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa
Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa - the health spa where you can really relax ......
Ragdale Hall is located in the rolling Leicestershire countryside. It combines state-of-the-art facilities with the charm of traditional Victorian architecture to create one of the most luxurious and relaxing health spas in the country and was recently voted Best Spa in Europe.
Whether you are looking for total relaxation during a weekend spa break, some pampering, an unrivalled range of treatments or to kick start a healthier lifestyle, Ragdale Hall is the perfect choice.
Ragdale Hall has received Health Spa of the Year awards each year for the last ten years, since 1999 in fact - the only UK health spa to achieve this. Having won “Best Destination Spa” in the Professional Beauty Awards six times in the last nine years, in 2007 Ragdale were voted Best Destination Spa in Europe.
With prices from only £69 for a day package and £280 per person per night for a two night stay in a double room, there are great value options for everyone.
Visit www.ragdalehall.co.uk for more information. And receive a 10% discount at Ragdale Hall thanks to www.whatson4littleones.co.uk - just quote WO4LO when booking.
Candoo Concierge
"No task too ordinary, or too extraordinary….we CanDOO it all!"
Hello I’m Lisa and I run CanDOO Concierge – we’re a friendly personal and corporate concierge service operating out of Cheshire.
It’s great to be associated with the inaugural mumandworking awards. As a busy mum of two with a husband who works abroad, I understand only too well the constant juggling act parents go through on a daily basis. My congratulations go out to all nominees; and to all those individuals and businesses that support parents in the workplace, and help make family life a little less stressful.
So what do we do at CanDOO Concierge?
If you’re a time-poor parent, a small business or a busy professional…
…we make your life easier …we give you back your time.
Here’s a small taster of the tasks we’ve undertaken for our clients since our launch in September 2009:
> Quality family-friendly holidays > Product sourcing and gift shopping
> Party planning > Up to 25% discount on new cars
> Event management > Hotel "virtual" concierge desks
> Corporate travel bookings > Theatre, concert and hospitality packages
> Home repairs and errands > Corporate PR, promotion and marketing
and what makes CanDOO stand out from the crowd?
> No membership fees > CRB checked
> No sign up fees > Supplier relationships
> Fully insured > Time, when you need it
Make your life easier today:
Visit us! www.candooconcierge.com
Follow us! Facebook
Befriend us! @CannyTheDooer
Call us! 07595 434 644
Magic Moments Direct Photography are supplying our awards ceremony photography
MagicMomentsDirect brings a wonderful opportunity to mums who wish to have their own business and yet time for the family. With over 25 years experience, a great team, products and systems, we can show you the quicker way to succeed in the proven and profitable world of pre-school photography.
Don't forget, this a a business that runs in term time only and offers excellent repeat business year after year. Don't be put off that it will all be too technical! With easy to follow personal training, and endless ongoing help and support, we will ensure that when you go out to your customers you will do so with confidence.
So, what will you need? Apart from a very low joining fee, and the purchase of some equipment, the most important qualities you must have are a bubbly personality, empathy with young children and a real desire to build a successful local business.
To find out more, please visit www.magicmomentsdirect.com We look forward to hearing from you.
Jo Tantum
Jo Tantum, author of best selling book, Baby Secrets, is best known for her ability to get any baby sleeping 12 hours through the night, gently without babies and parents getting distressed.
With 22 years experience including work as maternity nurse, Jo's advice is tried, tested and backed up with robust research.
With Jo's compassion and honest mission to want to help sleep deprived parents it's no wonder Jo is the UK's leading sleep specialist. You may have seen Jo on GMTV, ITV or on Richard and Judy discussing spaced soothing techniques or maybe on BBC radio programmes sharing sleep techniques with listeners. Or in any of the major newspapers .You can also read Jo's latest advice every month in Prima Baby magazine as their Sleep Expert.
Jo runs a successful private practise offering consultations , her ‘Rescue Packages’ in which she comes to your home and teaches you and your baby how to sleep and also offers email and phone support . Whatever the problem , however difficult Jo can solve it and make sure parents can enjoy their baby and better understand their needs.
Contact Jo at www.babysecretsltd.comWendy Shand, owner and founder of Tots To Travel
This year’s Practical Parenting’s Business Parent of the Year Award winner, Wendy Shand started Tots to Travel when her 2 year old son fell into an unenclosed swimming pool whilst on a family holiday in France in 2005. Wendy spotted a gap in the market to provide families with small children and babies with safe, genuinely family friendly holiday accommodation in France. What followed was www.TotstoFrance.co.uk, a business boasting a portfolio of personally vetted holiday properties, specially kitted out for families.
Following the success of the French venture, Wendy has expanded her concept to Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK, with Asia and Australia following soon and has turned over over £1 million. This worldwide expansion means that the business is now known as www.TotstoTravel.co.uk and is drawing acclaim from all over the world.
In the three years since starting Tots to France, Wendy has won 4 awards including the Practical Parenting Business Parent of the Year Award 2009, BT Essence of the Entrepreneur Award and the Mother@Work Mumpreneur Award and was recently Highly Commended in the Remote Worker Awards 09. She has been profiled in broad sheet newspapers, glossy magazines, business books, on radio and on TV, most recently the BBC’s Money Programme ‘Mum’s the Business’.
Wendy is increasingly seen as a role model and mentor for women in business and has a growing media presence as an expert on family travel, small business development and as a pioneer in using the internet to achieve a better work/life balance. Wendy was on the panel of judges for last year’s Enterprisnation Homeworker of the Year Award an inspirational speaker at the first ever Mumpreneur’s Conference in October 2009.
Wendy is a keen advocate for mumpreneurs and Work At Home Mums (WAHMs). Her team includes over 20 mums from all over Europe whose job it is find and carefully vet all the holiday properties featured on the site.
Antonia Chitty, PR expert and mumandworking mumpreneur guruBack in 2002, Antonia Chitty was stuck in a job that just wasn’t working for her. She says, “I felt like I was trying to do a full weeks work in part time hours, and spending all my money on childcare. Other people were looking after my daughter, and I was missing out on her growing up.”
Antonia has a session with a life coach which set on the path to run her own business. She says, “I set up my own PR agency which focused on helping mums in business to do their own PR. That led to my first books, A Guide to Promoting Your Business and Family Friendly Working. I’m now working on my 9th book, and take home money from my own business every month, enough money to pay the bills and more. I get to choose when I work, and more often than not work from home. And I love what I do. I have total control over my work.”
Antonia is now sharing her business expertise with any mum who wants to set up a business through The Mumpreneur Guide. She says, “Being your own boss comes with responsibilities. No-one else is going to do your work for you and sometimes it is a juggle to fit it all in: don’t sign up to become a Mumpreneur if you are afraid to work hard. But that’s where I can help you. You see, not only have I done it myself, I’ve worked with hundreds of women in business, and interviewed hundreds more for my books. I have access to advice from real business experts to share with you too.”
In October 2009 Antonia won “Inspirational Business Mum of the Year” Award at the Mumpreneur Conference.
Helen Slingsby, career coach and mumandworking career agony aunt
Helen Slingsby is a career coach who set up Career Breakthrough to help people try to figure out what to do with the rest of their working life. Part of her time is spent helping women return to work and helping them combine work and family life. She does this through workshops and one-to one sessions.
Helen is a former business journalist and career changer who took time out to look after her two sons (now 9 and 11) and studied part-time to gain an MSc in Career Management and Counselling at Birkbeck College, London University.
Tracy Gardiner, author and coachTracy Gardiner is a mum of three, coach, trainer, author and founder of Purple Path Coaching and Mums’ PATH.Since having children Tracy has done just about every combination of the mum + work equation; working mum, stay at home mum, maternity leave mum, self-employed mum and running-her-own-business mum!She has over 10 years experience as a business trainer and consultant with a wide variety of businesses – large and small.Following her own experiences Tracy decided to channel her skills in a different way by retraining as a coach in 2007 and setting up her own business, so Purple Path Coaching and Mums’ PATH were born. Mums’ PATH provides coaching and support for mums, enabling them to be the best they can be, get the most out of life and enjoy their families to the full.
Tracy is passionate about her family and passionate about business and is delighted to be a part of the mumandworking awards to shout about the amazing working mums out there, and the employers that work hard to enable flexible and family friendly working environments.You can follow Tracy on Twitter @mumcoach, read her blog at http://purple-path-coaching.blogspot.com and visit the Mums’ PATH website at www.mumspath.co.uk
Helen Pritchard, mumandworking blogger and multi-business owner
Following the birth of her second child two short years after her first, Helen Pritchard from Grappenhall, Cheshire decided to take control of her life and become a role model for her two girls, and somehow working in finance at social services just wasn’t cutting it. In fact it soon dawned on her that working for someone else was unlikely to give opportunities for truly flexible working, nor regular trips to the Caribbean.So a long held passion for reflexology was unearthed and embarking on numerous courses she qualified in all aspects of holistic therapy and promptly set up
blueskyholistics specialising in holistic fertility and pregnancy treatments, soon becoming the local support for women trying for, having and just having had a baby as well as pampering and easing the stresses of the local mums. Working so closely within ‘the circuit’ led to training in Infant Massage and going on to teach community and private classes, to antenatal groups and to nursery nurses in private nurseries. The benefits of infant massage to babies and parents became very quickly apparent from the amazing and inspiring feedback from parents.
Helen wanted to bring those benefits to parents and carers in a fantastically accessible way and New Stork Times was born in Dec 2009. Instant access to instruction to help with colic, digestion problems, improve sleep patterns and calm your baby – all backed up with full community support and access to Helen herself without having to get your baby out to a community centre, at a set time, on a set day, praying for calm and contented, not hungry or upset or asleep! Find out more at www.newstorktimes.co.uk
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