he has grown Childbase into a group of 45 nurseries across the South of England, supporting over 7,000 children and employing around 2,500 colleagues. Mike has been a leading figure in the UK early years sector for more than three decades. He was a founding member and former Chairman of the National Day Nurseries Association, established to represent private nursery providers as the sector developed. He also contributed to the Government’s Sure Start initiative, building six children’s centres in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. A strong advocate for employee ownership, Mike led Childbase’s transition to full employee ownership in 2017, making it the first childcare business to take this step. He also served as Deputy Chairman of the Employee Ownership Association, helping to strengthen national recognition of employee-owned business models. Mike was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to childcare and a CBE in 2020 for philanthropy and education.

the early years sector she combines a strong foundation in early childhood education with extensive operational and leadership expertise. Emma joined Childbase Partnership in 2012 as a Regional Director, later becoming Operations Director before being appointed Chief Executive. Her leadership is rooted in the organisation’s employee-owned ethos, with a focus on collaboration, colleague engagement and shared success. She is passionate about creating environments where children, families and colleagues can thrive, championing high-quality early years education, workforce development and a culture of care and ambition.

recognised as a benchmark qualification in childcare. Louise oversees key operational areas including the quality of care and education, customer service, recruitment, acquisitions, estate management, business sustainability and nursery growth. She plays a vital role in the development of existing settings and the creation of new nurseries, ensuring environments reflect the latest research and benefit from ongoing investment to maintain the highest standards. Providing visible and effective leadership across the organisation, Louise is committed to the continuous professional development of colleagues. She supports and motivates teams to enhance their skills and knowledge, helping to ensure children and families receive the highest quality care and education.

and Head of Safeguarding. With over 10 years at Childbase Partnership, Michelle brings extensive experience in early years leadership, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, assurance. She leads the organisation’s approach to all aspects of safeguarding, leadership and governance. Throughout her career, Michelle has been passionate about mentoring and developing teams, supporting colleagues to grow in confidence, capability and profit curiosity. Committed to creating environments where children and teams can thrive, she champions a strong safeguarding culture where keeping children safe center of everything the organisation does.

of high-quality training programmes that support individual growth, professional excellence, and business performance. Throughout a distinguished career spanning colleges, independent training providers, and employer-led learning environments, Kara has successfully designed and implemented innovative apprenticeship and training solutions aligned with industry needs and national skills priorities. Passionate about creating pathways for progression and lifelong learning, Kara has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams, driving continuous improvement, and fostering cultures of excellence. Her strategic leadership has consistently delivered strong learner outcomes, enhanced organisational capability, and strengthened partnerships with employers, awarding bodies, and sector stakeholders. Committed to ensuring that training delivers measurable impact, Kara combines extensive sector knowledge with a forward-thinking approach to skills development, helping organisations build capable, confident, and future-ready workforces.