This year we see Aspire reaching it’s 25th Birthday. Our Managing Director and Founder, Cheryl Hadland, has seen Tops and Aspire grow from 4 apprentices at the original Tops Parkstone setting, to the approximately 3,000 learners that have now completed apprenticeships with us. See below what she had to say about the efforts of the past 25 years below.
“When I started Aspire with 4 apprentices in one nursery, Tops Day Nursery Parkstone, I did not imagine that 25 years later we would have around 350 learners every year, with twice as many non-Tops learners as Tops learners. We are very proud to be making such a huge contribution to early years education and care in our areas across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Devon and Somerset. Aspire has been described as world class and a Beacon for early years, and despite enormous financial difficulties in the sector nationally, continues to provide training for learners that equips them for working not only in day nurseries but across many sectors where great customers service, respect, and attention to detail in health and safety is required, as well as fantastic preparation for parenthood. Administration, customer service and management qualifications have been added to the Aspire portfolio as the most ambitious staff inevitably want and need these in addition to their essential early years training and Aspire has stepped up to the mark in delivering top quality training in these areas as well. Aspire is one of the only B.Corp training providers in the country, and as such all decisions are taken with the environment, and social impacts taken into consideration and governance is transparent and ethical, as verified by B. Corp. Deficiencies in government funding can cause financial worries for Aspire as its dependent on this either directly or via the levy on larger employers, but assuming the government funding does consider inflation, utilities and wage competition, Aspire is confident of a buoyant future where the focus can be on excellence of training within the early years sector.”
Happy Birthday Aspire!
