The owner of an independent nursery retail firm who cycles to work and encourages her staff not to take a “jobsworth” approach to work today won a prestigious business award.

Laura Tenison, founder and managing director of JoJo Maman Bebe, which sells mother and baby clothes and products, was named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of The Year, after growing her company from scratch to in 1993 to a turnover of £21 million a year.

Some of the 280 employees at the firm, based in Newport, South Wales, have been with the company since it started, benefiting from Ms Tenison’s ethos of social enterprise – and wanting people to enjoy their job.

“You spend a lot of time in work so it’s important staff aim to achieve something and come away at the end of the day with a sense of satisfaction rather than having a jobsworth attitude,” the 43-year-old told the Press Association.

“I am keen to encourage staff to further their education and to get involved in a charity we support in Africa. I want as many staff as possible to go to Africa to see what we are doing to support people.”

The mother of two set up her business with a single sewing machine, renting a disused carpentry workshop near Pontypool in South Wales.

She travelled extensively before her business took off, especially in Brittany, and now uses French nautical themes in many of the clothes she sells.

“I encourage staff to pursue their dreams in life and offer flexible shifts, school hour shifts and the chance to work from home. We have husbands and wives working for us who swap babies over in the car park as they arrive and leave for work.”

Ms Tenison, who is still an avid traveller, cycles to her office in London and takes her bike on the train when visiting other offices or some her company’s 27 stores across the UK, partly to keep fit, and partly to save money.

Her firm is described as the UK’s foremost niche market specialist in the pregnancy, baby and nursery market, and prides itself on high levels of staff retention.

JoJo Maman Bebe has just been given an award for being one of the best companies to work for.

The firm is a supporter of the Nema Foundation, a Mozambique-based charity for infant mortality, and commits to work placements for Down’s Syndrome sufferers.

Ms Tension said after receiving her award: “When I consider the remarkable achievements of the former winners and my fellow nominees, it is a real privilege and an honour to win this award. I am delighted to follow in the footsteps of such an esteemed list of highly talented business people who are an inspiration to women everywhere.”

Sally Warmington, Marketing Director for Veuve Clicquot, said: “We are delighted that the judges have selected a winner who fully embraces the nature of the awards and can provide inspiration for other up and coming entrepreneurs.

“Laura has set a benchmark for other UK businesses and demonstrated that it is indeed possible to successfully lead a company to commercial success, as well as embrace wider ethical and environmental initiatives.”

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