IN the many accolades heaped upon Happy Jays Ltd the North Yorkshire children’s nursery group in past Press Business Awards, the focus of attention was on its founder, Jacqui Gernon.

She was a finalist in the Business Personality Of The Year category in 2004 and she powered the group to the top three in the Progress Through People award the following year. Then four years ago, Jacqui scooped the Women In Enterprise title.

This time, both Jacqui and her husband, Tony, managing director, who both founded the £2 million turnover York, Scarborough, Boroughbridge and Batley nurseries, have thrust their Scarborough nursery manager, Louise Goodger into the limelight. They want her to win the Women In Enterprise title this year.

Just lately, Louise is in a celebratory mood. After achieving her honours degree in early childhood education and care last year, she was awarded her Early Years Professional Status and is part- way through a masters degree in early years practice and research administered by York St John University.

She joins a select handful of early years professionals throughout the UK who are leading the way in childcare qualifications.

And she has achieved all this while holding down a full-time manager’s job as well as looking after two teenage sons and a husband.

Her academic prowess also says something about the Happy Jays approach to business, where “people power paves the way for superior childcare”. Louise is one of six graduates among its 104 staff and the company is supporting a further eight of its employees to gain degree qualifications.

Jacquie says: “Louise has shown that with commitment and hard work you can achieve great things.

“Juggling a heavy workload, family needs and this level of academic study is a fantastic achievement and a role model for all young women to aspire to.”