Dorset nursery chain honoured with Queen's Award
It was set up more than 30 years ago
A chain of nurseries based in Dorset has been honoured with a Queen's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
Tops Day Nurseries, which has 12 branches across the county, have been recognised today (Thursday 21st April) for it's "excellence" in that field.
The award is for providing inspiration and genuinely driving change in its sector.
Employing 750 people, Tops Day Nurseries was set up in 1990 and operates 32 nurseries across the South Coast, educating and caring for children in their early years.
They've been trying to change the amount of disposable items and one-use plastics, such as nappies, gloves and glitter normally used in the sector.
The Founder and Managing Director, Cheryl Hadland, said:
“We are truly delighted and proud to achieve this award, despite suffering the crippling impact of covid, and even worse, the under-funding of early years provision in this country in recent years. Nursery colleagues and parents are paying the price of the under funding from their own pockets, despite early years being one of the best investments anyone could make. Early years educators provide the foundations for todays children to be able to run the country tomorrow, and we believe that an essential part of that is showing our empathy and respect for our environment and all people, animals and plants within it, showing the best example we can for our children to follow.
"Words are not enough, all our decisions must embed sustainability and we must continue to learn ourselves. We welcome this award to celebrate what we have achieved so far, but also to encourage us to continue our sustainability journey and to encourage more nurseries, parents, businesses, and schools to join us, in trying to safeguard our children’s future health and happiness."
The honour means the business can use the Queen's Award Emblem for the next five years.