Tops Day Nurseries, the family of 27 day nurseries who are famously renowned for being leaders in sustainability, have won a prestigious accolade awarded by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The finalists for the established Dorset Business Awards were invited to attend the gala awards night in November to see who were crowned the winners. Thirty – nine finalist organisations were honoured at the awards, including Tops Day Nurseries for being announced the winner of the Environmental Business Award.
It is no secret that Tops Day Nurseries already has a glowing reputation for its sustainability and environment efforts, having made controversial choices that have impacted the childcare industry and marked the beginning of the sustainable childcare movement.
Tops Day Nurseries believe in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible world for all and recognise the importance of educating the children of today in order to influence the way future generations live.
Tops Day Nurseries gained global attention for its decision to ban the use of glitter at all 27 nurseries across the south, having become aware that it contributes to the build-up of microplastics in the oceans, harming marine life and the future of the environment.
Among many things the company’s sustainability goal has seen the reduction of single use plastics and a conscientious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle all materials possible. But it is not just the fact Tops Day Nurseries are doing this, adults and children are working together to learn during their day to day experiences and activities when at nursery, helping to ensure the message of sustainability and respect for the environment becomes a habit, a natural part of being responsible for life on our planet.
The nurseries offer sanctuaries for wildlife, releasing butterflies into the wild, creating bug hotels in the garden or looking after chicks. The nurseries have also built their own wormeries.
Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries commented “I am delighted to announce that Tops Day Nurseries have won the 2018 Dorset Business Award’s Environmental Award, based on our sustainable efforts across all of our nurseries! There were a large number of entries and we were shortlisted in the final up against Upton Country Park and Neal’s Yard!
I would like to say a special thank you to Harriet Pacey, Business Development Director, and Zoe Roberts, Marketing Manager for working so hard on putting the application together, organising video recording and coordinating with the Global team, organising attendance at the various awards events as well. Thanks also to Stephanie Walker and the team at Tops Wimborne for accommodating the judges during their visit to the nursery. They did us proud.
The continued support from staff of the very positive changes we are implementing has been incredible. Dealing with change can often be difficult but they have been so supportive and enthusiastic! Together we are all working to provide a better future for the children we care for as well as for ourselves!”
Tops Day Nurseries plan to continue to inspire and educate parents, staff, children, nurseries and other businesses to become more environmentally sustainable.
Stephanie Walker, Nursery Manager at Tops Wimborne said “I am so proud to be working for a company that is thinking about the environment and making positive changes for the future generations. I am very privileged to be in a position in which I can educate children and families, in ways of being more economically friendly.”
