Supernanny makes £1 million business expansion child's play...

(4th June 2008)

A former nanny has made business child’s play with a major expansion programme which means she now runs one of the biggest childcare companies in the country.

Claire Adams, 30, is the now the largest franchisee of the UK’s leading childcare agency Tinies. Claire operates three branches covering Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

It means that Claire, whose services include providing nannies, staff for nurseries, mobile crèches, babysitting and maternity nurses, has a business turning over more than £1 million a year.

She has just opened new offices at Suffolk House, Wooburn Green, Bucks, which will cover Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and continues to run her Hertfordshire arm of the agency from St Albans.

Claire, from Beaconsfield, started out as a live-in nanny 11 years ago. She then worked for Tinies as an office assistant in the Berkshire office.

Just over three years ago Claire took the plunge herself and opened up her own Tinies branch covering Hertfordshire. It was such a success that last year she took on the business covering Buckinghamshire.

Now the expansion continues with her taking over the branch that first gave her a job in the company. With the acquisition of Berkshire it was time for new offices and she found the perfect location in Wooburn Green.

It means that Claire now runs the biggest franchise area for Tinies which itself is the biggest childcare agency in the UK. She employs 10 staff across the two offices.

Childcare is a booming area as more mothers return to work. Parents come to Tinies when looking for both permanent and emergency nannies and maternity nurses. The babysitting and mobile crèche arms of the business are also growing areas.

Supplying nursery staff is another growth area. Many nurseries struggle to find quality staff – both full and part time – but must also keep staff levels at Ofsted set levels. Tinies takes the recruitment work on, relieving the stress on nursery managers and owners.

Tinies interviews and reference checks all childcarers. They also offer advice on employment regulations and pay and tax issues.

Claire, who grew up in Holmer Green and attended Wycombe College said she had surprised herself with the rapid growth of the business.

“This is a great business to be in. We get to know the nannies and nursery staff really well and then have the satisfaction of helping parents at a stressful time. It is great to have a new office on the Buckinghamshire/Berkshire border, it feels like coming home.

“Picking the right childcare is the most important decision you can make so parents and nurseries appreciate the experience that we bring.

“I feel very proud to have started as a nanny and then as a junior member of staff with Tinies to owning three of the biggest branches,” she said.

Oliver Black, director of Tinies, said it was a great achievement.

“Claire has demonstrated what can be done with determination, hard work and a focus on customer service. To be operating three of our largest franchise areas at such as young age is fantastic,” he said.

Tinies Buck, Berks and Herts can be contacted on 01628 522212 or 01727 844040 bucks@tinies.com or berks@tinies.com or herts@tinies.com

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