Staff at Greengables Day Nursery in Sandhurst were definitely ‘having their cake and eating it’ on Friday as they celebrated National Employee Ownership Day just weeks after they took over their company. 

Staff at the day nursery in Yeovil Road were treated to music, games and party food

Balloons and bunting decorated the day nursery in Yeovil Road as practitioners were treated to music, party food and games.

The nursery party is the latest celebration for staff who are now owners of the award-winning Childbase Partnership which has 41 day nurseries, including Greengables, in the South of England and was voted top UK Employee Owned Business 2016/2017.

Manager Faye Ballard explained colleagues were still on a high following the move from individual share ownership of the company to a Trust Board which benefits all 1,600 plus employees.

She said: “As owners, every employee has a voice and a role in the decision-making process so we are all personally invested in our nursery. EO Day gives us a chance to show the rest of the UK that we are proud of our company and that being an employee owner makes a difference to all our colleagues and the children in our care.

“Ofsted inspectors have repeatedly told us that a happy and engaged staff team equals confident children ready to realise their full potential,” she added.

Staff also received gift bags and in November they will receive a tax-free Partnership Dividend payment as part of the ‘Sharing our Success’ initiative at the company.