A YOUNG entrepreneur has won the ‘Business of the Year’ accolade in recognition of his booming childcare nursery group at The Scottish Asian Business Awards.
Deepak Poddar, 26, founder and managing director of Little Einstein’s Kindergarten Ltd, which has seven nurseries throughout Scotland, beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other businesses to win the award, which was presented in recognition of his business achievements and growth.
Little Einstein’s opened its first two nurseries in Glasgow in 2006.
The following year, Poddar acquired the Wonderland Group in a £3m deal, which added nurseries in Arbroath, Dundee, Perth and a teacher training consultancy also in Perth, to its rapidly-expanding portfolio.
The group, which caters for newborns to five year olds, currently provides care for over 750 children per day and will be increasing that figure in the year ahead with the completion next month of a £200k extension to Little Einstein’s Hillhead nurseries in Glasgow.
Poddar, whose family runs the Lambhill Court chain of nursing homes in Glasgow, also has his own care home business, Everest Nursing Homes Scotland which operates two care homes in Glasgow. Overall, his company employs 250 people in Scotland and has a turnover in excess of £5m.
Commenting on winning the Business of the Year Award, Poddar said: “We continuously invest in setting the highest standards of child care in a nurturing, home from home environment. This has seen the business go from strength to strength and I am delighted to receive this award and I thank my team of dedicated staff whose support has been instrumental in being nominated for this prestigious award.”
Over 500 people attended the Scottish Asian Business Awards which honours the determination, hard work and personal achievements of Scottish Asian Business men and women at the forefront of their industries.
Speaking at the awards, First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The continued success of our Asian community enriches Scotland as a whole and the achievements of our Asian businessmen and women make an outstanding contribution to the strength of our economy.
“As a veteran of this event, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to pay tribute to these worthy winners. I am sure that the example set by these innovators will continue to influence and inspire people across the country to follow in their footsteps.”
Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, added: “Everywhere I go in Scotland, I see members of the Asian community running both large and small businesses, and always looking ahead to the next opportunity. Despite the recent challenging economic conditions they are still full of enthusiasm and ideas.
“It is this forward-thinking approach to business that has helped build a solid foundation for their communities to thrive and to contribute to the wider community in which they live.”
Ends
Issued on behalf of Little Einstein’s Kindergarten Group by Panache Communications. For further information please contact Jen Nash on t. 07971 466 220 e. jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
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Contact: Jen Nash, Panache Communications Ltd
Phone: 07971 466 220
Email: jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
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