Childcare enterprise in running for top business award

A Renfrewshire childcare provider is in the running for a prestigious business award.

KLAS Care is one of four businesses nominated for Community Champion of the Year in the ROCCO awards run by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by comedian Fred McAulay on Friday, November 17, at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew.

Set up in 2010 by Lesley Compston and Kirsty MacKenzie in response to a severe lack of local affordable childcare in their home town of Linwood, KLAS Care became a social enterprise in 2014.

Growing demand from parents saw the opening of a second venue at a primary school in Johnstone, they say.

The business aims to reduce the number of families living in poverty in Renfrewshire through the provision of affordable and flexible childcare, enabling parents to access education, training or employment.

The company aims to deliver additional social benefits by reinvesting profits in subsidising fees for low-income families, allowing inclusive access to the service, and providing accredited training to volunteers.

KLAS Care recently secured a £ 40,000 loan from the Asda Community Capital Fund, which they will use to help convert and renovate new premises which they have just recently acquired.

Lesley said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the ROCCO awards and also to receive funding from the Asda Community Capital Fund through Social Investment Scotland.

“The support we have received from SIS and from Firstport, who are helping us to secure further investment, has been vital for us to progress with our refurbishment plans and achieve our aim of bringing more childcare spaces and much needed community space to the area.”