Name: Sarah Steel
Age: 38
Children: Harry, nine, and Jessica, seven
Job title: Managing director
Company: The Old Station Nursery Ltd
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
Finding a lack of good quality childcare in the area for my own children, coupled with a desire for more flexibility in my working hours.
How did you fund the business?
By re-mortgaging our house, persuading family members to invest and then a bank loan as well.
What are the best bits about working again?
I enjoy using my brain and all the training and education I have done over the years. I loved being at home with my children but did miss adult company and the challenges that the workplace brings.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
Highs – opening the door of my first nursery in 2002 and actually thinking, “wow, I did that”. Getting my group of 11 managers together for a training day and realising how far we have come as a company and that we had created our own company with or own vision and values. Not having to ask anyone for a day off! Being at school at 3pm to pick my children up – at least a couple of days per week.
Lows – feeling that I wasn’t spending enough time at home, or at work and that perhaps I had bitten off rather more than I could chew! Generally having more work than I could fit into a day and trying to be mum, wife and boss as well.
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to when your family was young?
My youngest is only seven, but the increased amount of maternity leave is great for working mums. Improved IT and systems are making working and juggling family commitments better all the time – I rely heavily on email and having our nurseries networked with a central server so we can all share documents.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
Determination and hard work – and very supportive family and friends.
What has been the high point along the way?
Winning awards is great recognition of all your hard work and is also great for all the team.
What is your worst experience along the way?
No particular horrors, just a long slog at times!
What made you decide to enter the Yell.com awards?
I was actually nominated by a friend who runs her own business, so it was a lovely surprise to be told I was a finalise and to be invited to the gala dinner.
Has winning the Yell.com award had an impact on your business?
Yes, it was great PR for us and has raised our profile in the industry. It also gave me exposure to other networking and support groups and I have been involved in a couple of Government focus groups as a result, which has been very interesting.
Any lessons learnt along the way?
Self-belief! It is absolutely essential to believe in yourself and surround yourself by positive people who will provide you with some encouragement when the going gets tough.
How has running the business affected you personally?
I’m very busy, but very fulfilled. Mostly I think the children are proud of me and pleased that I have interests outside the home. It has allowed us to buy a bigger house and settle in the village that we wanted too. I’m also really proud to lead a fantastic team of over 200 staff who are so dedicated and really love what they do.
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
It certainly is possible, but something does have to give and you will end up juggling, begging favours from friends, being stressed and occasionally thinking it’s too much – but the good days make up for it and actually we all have the same frustrations in different degrees whether we work in a company, for ourselves or stay at home.