Sally Minns, who set up the Old School House Children's Nursery in Sancton in autumn 2000, is one of ten finalists in the HSBC Start-up Stars Awards, which invite applications from UK businesses that have been trading for less than two years and can demonstrate that they have the approprate management skills and ideas for success.
A childcare studies graduate, Ms Minns had worked as a nanny, a senior nursery nurse and as acting nursery manager for the University College Hospital in London before setting up her own nursery, which gained the Investors in People award in just under nine months.
John Rendall, head of business banking at HSBC bank, said, 'The Old School House Children's Nursery demonstrated a particularly impressive combination of business flair, creativity and determination. We hope that highlighting the achievements of local entrepreneurs like Sally Minns will encourage other budding Yorkshire businessmen and women considering "going it alone" in the near future.'
For reaching the final ten shortlisted, The Old School House Children's Nursery will receive 3,000 worth of consultancy services from business specialists Croner Consulting and software company Intuit. Ms Minns will be interviewed in London by a panel of business experts this month about why the nursery deserves to win the top prize and the winner will be revealed at a gala dinner at London's Savoy Hotel on 3 October.
