4:48pm Friday 4th July 2008
By Sarah Graham
A SMALL Caerphilly business has lost out to one of the World's biggest companies at a prestigious, star studded award ceremony in Downing street.
Playworks childcare was shortlisted for the annual mothers@work award in the employer of the future category, along with global giants, Microsoft, and one of the UK's largest businesses, First direct.
The award scheme, organised by webzine, now in it's fourth year, recognises the efforts of businesses that have been inspirational or innovative in their approach to improving the lives of working mothers and their families and helping them to achieve a balance.
The event, which took place in Number 11's impressive state room, was attended by Playworks representatives, Sarah Gardener, child care development manager and the company's managing director, Katherine Watkins.
Sarah Gardener said: "It was a lovely day, it was so surreal, with Sarah Brown wandering in and out."
The award was presented by presented by popular comedian Jo Brand and attended by a number of celebrities including: Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah Brown, actress Arabella Weir, who acted as a judge, singer Janey Lee Grace and Fame academy voice coach, Carrie Grant, as well as a number of nominees and sponsors.
Mrs Gardener said: "It was such an honour to be nominated, for such a small company of 80 employees to be up against global companies like Microsoft and First direct is such a massive achievement and recognises our hard work in providing parents with a balance between their home and working lives."
Mother@work founder and editor Denise Tyler said: "The large number of high quality entries in the Employer of the Future category has once again shown that employers are finding new ways to give employees the flexibility they need to combine work and family life, without impacting the business."
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