Dream decade for Julie

Running her own business is ‘child’s play’ for one Leyland businesswoman as she celebrates her tenth anniversary at the helm.

Ten years ago, Julie Danson bravely upped her status – from managing someone else’s nursery to owning and running her own. Julie and husband Ed took over Stanley House on Croston Road, Farington Moss in 2004 and are currently celebrating 10 years’ successful growth.

Julie, a former Worden High School pupil, said: “I love my work, the ten years have flown by. The staff are great, the children are wonderful, if it wasn’t for all the paperwork and administration, this would be a dream come true.”

Indeed, things have progressed so well in the first decade, Julie now owns a ‘sister’ nursery, Orchard house at the heart of Leyland town centre.

She explained: “I worked in child care since leaving school and after managing nurseries, it seemed a logical step-up to have my own. When Stanley House came on the market, Eddie and I jumped at the chance to buy and since then, it’s gone really well.

“Some of the original staff are still with us. They are a great team, really good friends and we have grown into the job together.”

Stanley House started 2014 in party mode and the celebrations continue. The children enjoyed a show put on by Taz, a local children’s entertainer, and Zoo Lab brought animals in to show. The staff, meanwhile, were treated to a weekend in London, taking in Mama Mia amongst other delights to celebrate the landmark.

Stanley House already caters for pre-school children from three months to five years, but plans are afoot to extend even further. “The nursery has grown since we began and now we’re considering extending the premises, watch this space,” says Julie. Inevitably, that would bring more dreaded administration and targets, For now, though, Julie, who already ticks al the boxes with Ofsted, is deservedly celebrating her tenth anniversary before tackling the future.