My name is Reesa Nawas and I have just become Oldham’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 at the Oldham Business Awards!! I run my own pre-school setting in Oldham and have a great passion working with young children. My pre-school setting is based in a deprived area in Oldham, which I would like to make significant change to. This job role is very important to me as I have an interest in making sure every child meets their development norm and is given the best education in their early years. As an Asian girl it has been a struggle growing up, not allowed to do many things in life. Such as, career life or studying. Growing up as a strong woman, facing each challenge of life with a determined goal. From start to finish, battling from being overweight, lack of confidence, studying through college and university, working 7 days a week (since the last 10 years), personal issues, financial stress, building a business from scratch (in Covid 19). I can say it has been a lengthy and challenging learning journey.
As part of my drive to build my business, I would like to thank The Princes Trust for supporting me with my business idea. Giving me support and knowledge around the business support which I never had. This programme delivered many different information sessions and workshops, which supported me to build my business. Such as, marketing, taxes, budgeting and much more. Also, I had a business mentor, regular one to one session’s took place which involved working on my business plan and cash flow. Furthermore, having support from Oldham Enterprise Trust was an amazing experience and an honour to work with them. They were brilliant and I know I could count on them, to always offered me the best support. When receiving the grant, this made my day. I had many outgoings with the business. The grant made the expenses lighter for me. It had been 4 months into the business I had no sign on the building. The grant I received paid towards the building sign. It was helpful and beneficial for me to use the grant for my business. I started operating in May 2022 and my business has grown rapidly which I never imagined. All this credit goes to The Kings’s Trust and Oldham Enterprise Trust for giving me best business support and guidance. Furthermore, Golden Petals Pre-school is now an award-winning setting. I got nominated as finalist, and now Young Entrepreneur of the year for The Oldham Business Awards!