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BUSINESS MUM OF THE YEAR AWARD 2008 BUSINESS MUM OF THE YEAR AWARD 2008
Last year's winner Last year's finalists
Meet Sarah Steel and the rest of 2007’s finalists. Get tips on how to write a winning application for 2008.
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Have you ever wondered how much mums who own their own businesses contribute to the economy, or what makes them so successful?

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Mum Magnates - 2008 Research

The Juggling Act - 2007 Research

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Sarah Steel

Winner: Sarah Steel, Faringon, Oxfordshire

After leaving the army to become a full-time mum to her second child, Sarah set up her own business - The Old Station Nursery. Unable to find suitable childcare in her local area, Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands. Following months of juggling family commitments with market research and endless efforts to secure suitable premises, The Old Station Nursery was born. Five years later, Sarah's enterprise has gone from strength to strength, with the company now running eleven nurseries across the UK.

www.theoldstationnursery.com


Sarah’s tips:
  • Always surround yourself with positive people, so that you can have someone to chat to when you really need a boost
  • Don’t kid yourself that you can always work at home with the children around – organise occasional breaks by hiring a nanny/babysitter /friend so you can be single-minded and not feel guilty about working so hard!
  • Think about what your strengths are. In the beginning you will probably have to get involved in every part of your business, but as you take on more people, identify where you are least efficient and outsource to someone else

Tips on filling out the application form:
  • The old cliché - read the question carefully, the judges will use the criteria of the question to measure your nomination against.
  • Don’t be shy when filling the form out – we aren’t very good about singing our own praises, but if you don’t tell the judges what you have achieved, they will never know about it.
We hope you find the information on this site helpful and that it encourages you to develop your ideas.
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Quick links to the top ten Yell.com classifications recommended by Sarah Steel and other finalists of the 2007 Prowess Awards. Because mums know best…

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Advertise your basic business details on Yell.com, Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and in Yellow Pages - for free!

Your Comments

I've been in business for a year now, running Generation One magazine - a local parenting magazine in Hull and East Yorkshire. I started the magazine because I had no support network after the birth of my son, Charlie and I realised lots of other Mums are like me - in their 30s, away from their families and with their friends working full time.

My advice would be to not be afraid of being yourself, warts and all. I started off thinking I had to wear a suit and act like a candidate for The Apprentice. I've learned that respect for others and good relationships lead to good sales - not any magic hard sell formula. The magazine has gone from strength to strength because other people recognise what I feel. Sometimes you need to stand up and be counted. It's scary, but it's not all about numbers, running a people business is incredibly valuable too.

Claire Boynton, Hull