Good employees can be hard to come by, but workers that have a good attitude can often have siblings, parents or cousins who share the same values and interests and may be a potential source of new staff.
Employing relatives can be a successful move for nursery chains. Nikki Reeve, operations manager of Fennies, says, 'We take employees on their own merits, but if they are part of a family they can often be more committed.'
So what is it like to work with someone to whom you are related? These four pairs of practitioners tell Nursery Chains that while working together carries significant benefits, it is not always a smooth ride.
Sisters
Gemma Griffiths and Donna Goodchild
Acorn Childcare
Siblings Gemma Griffiths, 29, and Donna Goodchild, 25, have worked together for two years and are now planning on opening a Forest School together.
Elder sister Gemma was already working at Acorn's Castlethorpe nursery when Donna decided to undertake a day release there. Gemma says, 'A happy team at work meant happy children. The support has made us both more confident and it was great for the children to have two consistent role models. We know what each other is thinking and she's strong where I am weak. There's a trust there. You both know what each other is going through and understand how each other works. The emotional support is amazing and has definitely bought us closer together in spite of our four-year age gap.'
Donna was hesitant to work with her sister at first, 'I was dubious about working with a sibling but it's actually great. It cuts out a lot of politics, you don't have to worry about them taking a suggestion the wrong way.
'We've had the same upbringing and standards set by our mum, she can't believe how well we get on. And some of the parents think we're so good they don't believe it either.'
She adds, 'We do tend to take work home and talk shop a lot and taking holidays together was tricky, but we can share lifts which saves us money.'
Mother and Daughter
Sharon and Jessica Alexander
Rosy Apple Childcare
Jessica Alexander started at her mother's nursery doing the washing up when she was just 14. She is now aged 20 and training to be a primary teacher for children with special educational needs, but she continues to work at the nursery when not at college.
Despite the generation gap Jessica says, 'My mum is very forward thinking and open to new ideas. Her fresh thinking allows room to generate discussion and debate. She's not a stick-in-the-mud, obsessed with old routines and practices. She's a great role model and even though I'm a strong personality, working with my mum has definitely given me a lot of confidence.
However, Sharon Alexander says employing her daughter has not always been plain sailing, 'Some of the new staff change their behaviour when they find out who her mum is until they realise that she has a contract too. It sounds harsh, but from the start she had a job description, contract and line manager just like everyone else and because of these ground rules we know where we stand.
'There was also a bit of friction at the beginning when the staff thought Jessica was gossiping to me at meal times. Since then she has sat with them in the staff room and the gossiping problem has stopped. She's much more part of the team.'
Sharon also explains how staff do try to use Jessica's influence, 'If they want something like extra equipment or an extra break they go through Jessica. She can say she's not the middle man, but she can really get at my heart strings. "We really need this new piece of equipment mum. The children need it," she'll say, and I often cave in.'
She adds, 'I also have higher expectations from her because she's my daughter and because she's a role model for the company. Her line manager sometimes tells me to ease off and that I need to remember she's only a 20-year-old.
'As for the nursery children, they think it hilarious when I tell them I've come to collect my little girl. They also think it's funny when Jessica calls me mum. It's quite a poor area so it's good for the kids to have the positive role model of a mother and daughter working together.'
Aunt and Niece
Mags O'Neill and Danielle Sherlock
Fennies Under 5s Day Nurseries
Mags O'Neill talked constantly about her work at Fennies' Kingshall branch, Beckenham to her niece Danielle Sherlock, 22, until, in the end, she started working with her. That was two years ago.
'It's great working with someone you're related to,' says Mags, who is the nursery manager. 'They're easy to get on with. You know what they're capable of doing and know they'll do anything for you.
'The worst side is staff prejudice. If I buy lunch for her, everyone cries favouritism but I like to treat her. And a couple of times I've had to call all the staff into my office when they've said to her, "your aunt just had a go at me" but that's stopped now.
'We were both trained around the same time so we have similar ideas. She listens to everybody, not just me. And she will say, "you're wrong". She's exactly the same as me and she'll challenge me as much as the next person. And if she's not doing her job she'll get told off.
'I really love to see Danielle achieve, but you have to step back and let her be your colleague not your niece.'
For assistant manager Danielle the pros and cons are 'definitely more on the positive side'. She says, 'When I first started it was easier having Mags there. There was always someone to talk to and she used to drop me home and buy me lunch. One day I'd like to be like her.'
Aunt and niece
Toni Smith and Michelle Jameson
Dizzy Ducks
Toni, 31, undertook work experience at Mayflower nursery in Billericay where her aunt, Michelle, works and they have been working together ever since. 'We love it,' babyroom leader Toni says. 'We get on so well and have a real understanding of each other.
'It's great because you know each other's ways. I know how Michelle likes to keep things tidy and organised and because we have a happy working relationship the children are happy too.'
Nursery practitioner Michelle admits, 'It's sometimes hard to escape. But we do like to take our work home and discuss it, we're constantly talking about it. When I lived in Billericay we used to share lifts and we usually have lunch together. It's basically just really good fun.' However, the situation will change at the start of next year when Toni becomes creche manager at the chain's new location.