Blog :: Archive for August 2011
Puddle Ducks “Mumpreneurs” Reach Finals of National Business Awards
We’re so excited - we’ve earned ourselves a place in the final line-up of The Mumpreneur Awards! These awards are aimed at celebrating parents throughout the UK who manage the difficult task of juggling business with family life, something that Jo and I have learnt a great deal about over the last ten years!
Our business and our friendship is very much wrapped up with our families – we met each other at antenatal classes, had our first babies on the same day back in March 2001, and have never looked back. Now we have two gorgeous girls (don’t all Mums say that?!) and a fabulous, fabulous business promoting a love of water through swimming and aquanatal classes. Family life is very much at the heart of it .... and of course we’re still juggling!
We have been shortlisted for the Best Interactive Business Award, sponsored by Hero Media, which is open to businesses who physically work closely with clients, where interacting is an integral part of the job. Amanda Farren from Mumpreneur UK says “Reaching the finals of these national awards is a huge achievement. 720 people entered, and only a handful have been selected as finalists. There were so many inspiring stories, fantastic business models, adorable products... and it was you and your business that made it here. Congratulations!”
We are thrilled that the ethos that has driven our company from the very first day has been recognised in these prestigious awards. It is so, so important to us, that Puddle Ducks enhances the life of all families who join us – whether that is ourselves, our employees, our franchisees or our customers. Flexible working around a happy family is possible, and we have shown that over the last ten years.
Judging our entry will be a panel of top entrepreneurs including BBC Dragon, Duncan Bannatyne, and the winners will be announced at The Mumpreneur Conference, on 25th September. This event is open to all parents who juggle family and business, and also for those interested in taking the plunge and starting up, so if you are a business mum yourself we’d love to meet you there! Tickets can be purchased through the Mumpreneur UK website.
Posted by Tracy on Friday, 26th August 2011
Come and see us at the Baby Show - for free!
We LOVED meeting so many new faces at the Birmingham Baby Show back in May, so we are REALLY excited to be attending the Manchester show too on 2nd – 4th September 2011. There will be five lovely North-West franchisees and their staff (Chester and Wirral, Mid Cheshire, South Lancashire, Greater Manchester and East Lancashire) all looking forward to meeting new and current Puddle Ducks during this fabulous three day event. The Baby Show claims to have “everything you and your baby need – in one place”. And that, of course, includes being able to talk to some of the UK’s most knowledgeable and passionate baby swimming teachers on the Puddle Ducks stand.
We’ll be offering some fabulous prizes including a free term of lessons to one really lucky winner, and a special 20% show discount for everyone who books in as a result of attending the show.
And the even better news is that we have FOUR pairs of FREE TICKETS to give away. To enter, just leave a comment telling us your most memorable Puddle Ducks moment and you could win a pair of tickets to go with a friend! Tell us about your baby’s first bubbles, first swim, or perhaps something funny.... when you look back at Puddle Ducks in years to come – what will you think of first? The competition closes at 10pm on Wednesday 24th August and we’ll randomly draw our winners and announce them on Facebook on Thursday morning. Don’t forget to leave us your email address so we can contact you if you win!
If you are planning to attend the Baby Show, please do come and visit us at stand B36 – we’d love to see you.
Posted by Tracy on Thursday, 18th August 2011