AFTER taking-out the gong for Australia's number-one childcare centre at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, Oakville Preschool Learning Centre is now in the running for the 2020 awards and has also been named a finalist for business of the decade.
Elle Connor, owner and director of Oakville Preschool, said becoming finalists in the Early Childhood Service of the Year and Business of the Decade categories was a "true testament to who we are and what we do."
She acknowledged her team for their commitment to the centre and the early childhood industry.
"They are a team of passionate and dedicated professionals," Ms Connor said.
"Oakville Preschool has high performance culture and strong employee retention.
"Oakville Preschool Learning Centre are leaders in the industry and have created an Early Childhood Service for staff, families, children and the community that is like no other."
Elizabeth Sheridan, former owner and licensee of Oakville Preschool, said it was "truly an honour" to be recognised as finalists in the 2020 awards, and said the team was "proud to be named Australia's number-one childcare service" in the same awards last year.
"To even imagine receiving the national award for best business over the last 10 years is simply mind blowing," Ms Sheridan said.
"We were chosen as a finalist from over 3,000 entries across all business sectors.
"Whether we win or not it is still such a huge achievement for a small business to be recognised at such a high level."
Late in 2019, Oakville Preschool also received two awards in the NSW Childcare Alliance awards ceremony. They were named 2019 Team of the Year and 2019 Service of the Year.
"Oakville is a very unique service, one that is very much loved by the Hawkesbury and surrounding communities," Ms Sheridan said.
This year's Australian Small Business Champion Awards national presentation evening will be held at The Star, Sydney on Saturday, March 21.