KEY STAFF
“It takes a village to raise a child”
Of course this African proverb means that it takes an entire community of people interacting with children for them to grow and prosper. It also epitomises the very nature of our business and reflects the value that we place on teamwork at MW Early Years. Our business relies on everybody who works for it.
THE TEAM:
MARIE WEST
Marie’s speciality is people, planning and pulling it all together. What does that mean? Well, in short, she strives to understand a clients’ real needs and does whatever it takes to make sure they are met – resulting in a portfolio of safe, compliant, efficient and profitable businesses. This extends to taking great care of the MW Early Years team itself – hiring the best and providing a supportive and inspiring workplace, that encourages them to stay.
Marie spent many years at British Telecom and then specialised in IT business support for the Travelodge Hotel Group, before venturing out on her own. She admits that it took a lot of courage to take the step and it hasn’t always been plain sailing, but she is not afraid of a challenge. Nice, capable and there to save you money – what more could you want in a consultant.
CHRIS WEST
Chris specialises in working with clients to understand their complex childcare needs. He plays a vital role in the overall strategic direction of the company and, after a long career in Health & Safety and marketing, is well placed to oversee all auditing and risk assessments. Chris has too many qualifications to list but they include NEBOSH NGC 1,2 & 3 and FC1 & 2 (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health), IOSH Managing Safely, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations) Management & Implementing BS OHSAS (Occupational H&S Management).
Chris is never too busy for a friendly chat. “I love meeting people from all walks of life – especially the curious children at the nurseries I visit – I have even been asked if I am Bob the builder“. The adults prefer to tap into his nursery sector expertise and have come to rely on him to make sure their business is doing everything it should be.
LAURA WEST
Laura West is MCW Nursery Support Service’s Senior Health and Safety Consultant. Laura specialises in health and safety in children’s day nursery and pre-schools. Fully qualified to ensure you have the right health and safety and Risk Management resources in place to remain compliant both with the law and Ofsted requirements, keeping you, your business and your staff safe at all times.
Laura undertakes H&S Nursery audits, provides IOSH Managing & Working Safely training, Health & Safety training, First Aid training and is a First Aid Integral Quality Assessor (IQA). Laura is also MW Early Years Environmental Management specialist. Laura has Tech IOSH status, which helps businesses achieve the best level of standards required for operational safety. She also holds a number of NEBOSH Qualifications which include National Fire Safety and Risk Management & Environmental Management, Laura is also qualified in First Response Emergency Care.
Laura has been asked to write a number of articles which have been published in childcare publications include Nursery Business & Teach, ranging on topics included “How Safe is Your Nursery”, “How to write and Risk Assessment” and “How Green is your Nursery to Name but a Few”.
As a Senior Health & Safety consultant Laura helps companies achieve a fully compliant status, then empowers them to retain those standards achieved. More so than ever today it is vitally important for businesses to have the right procedures and policies in place at all times, and with Laura’s knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise your business will remain safe.
Laura loves working with people, her passion to help them achieve their personal and business goals shines through, even if not face to face course. But not one to sit still, Laura also develops our unique eLearning training courses, making sure all individual training needs are met. Her bubbly, enthusiastic nature ensures every course she delivers is enjoyable, and brings success to those who attend. As with her love of gardening, she nurtures growth, and to her there is no greater achievement than seeing the results.
JO-ANNE DEAN
Jo is the company’s training co-ordinator. Jo has created and keeps up to date all of our first aid course paperwork, she works closely with our awarding bodies to ensure all elements of the courses we run are completed and documented in an efficient fashion.
Jo has a level 4 award in the Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) of Assessment Processes and Practice which she uses to ensure MCW’s high standards are maintained throughout the First Aid Training. All MCW First Aid Trainers are IQA’d at least once a year, meaning Jo could be sat in on one of your courses. But once your course is over Jo’s work continues in checking all the paperwork and then will create your certificates and get these out to you.
In between doing this she also works alongside Kirsty – with pride, good grace and absolute efficiency. In just a day, they could be helping clients on the phone, supporting their colleagues on the road or putting together bespoke documents, such as the ‘New Nursery Opening Pack’. We think their middle names are ‘creativity’ and ‘multi-tasking’.
Jo also supports with finance.
Jo has NVQ’s in Business Administration and Customer Service, is qualified in First Aid and an IOSH Managing Safely and bookkeeping certification.
KIRSTY LAURENCE
Kirsty works alongside Jo with the day to day running of the support office.
She can be mainly found putting together client orders, new opening packs, first aid training packs and evacuation bags.
Kirsty also deals with a variety of client emails in relation to their online training.
TONI HOBBS
Toni is MW Early Years newest team member to join the MCW family.
After an 8-year career in a quality childcare environment where she started as a nursery nurse and went on to develop and progress to become 3rd in charge.
Toni has a Level 2 & 3 BTEC national diploma in children’s care and learning and whilst working in the nursery environment was able to complete The IOSH Managing Safely – which is an internationally recognised qualification. Toni then took the leap into Health and Safety, where she will be completing audits alongside Chris and Laura.
Toni’s hobbies include meeting new people and is not afraid of a new challenge whether personally or professionally.