AN AWARD-WINNING children’s day nursery is hoping to win another accolade as it vies to become ‘medium employer of the year’.

Little Inspirations, operating in Barry, has been shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru prize which will be presented at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, on October 20.

Managing director Jenine Gill said her company was a learning institute for those looking to develop a career in the child care sector.

It employs 66 staff providing childcare services for children aged from six weeks to 11 years of age.

It currently has 20 apprentices and has trained 33 in the last five years.

Little Inspirations was an apprenticeship awards Cymru 2015 runner-up and VQ employer of the year and best services business award winner in Rhondda Cynon Taff – also last year.

Ms Gill, who left school with minimum GCSEs, has created a deep-rooted culture of learning in her business, which holds a Flying Start contract.

She said her learning journey has taken her to a higher apprenticeship in leadership and management level five.

The company, which has a strong partnership with training provider Educ8, has a host of success stories of staff progression from the bottom to the top of the business, assisted by flexible support and one-to-one mentoring.

Educ8 delivers programmes spanning from foundation apprenticeships to higher apprenticeships in playwork, children’s care, learning and development and management.

Ms Gill said: “Apprenticeships contribute to staff retention, internal promotions and an increase in sales and occupancies, meaning that the company has a safe budget to continue its programmes.

“We see this as a long term investment with an instant return.”

The Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) -organised awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals, employers and learning providers who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s traineeships, Jobs Growth Wales and apprenticeship programmes.