JAE Fraser, owner of Redland Bay’s Little Scholars School of Early Learning, is helping busy parents to spend more time with their kids.
Under his direction, kids’ haircuts, doctors appointments, visits by eye specialists and even dinner are all taken care of at the centre.
His recipe for carefree, family time has proven a successful one, with the Gold Coast man awarded a prestigious business win.
The 34-year-old has been named a Queensland Entrepreneur of the Year and a national finalist for the Australian Entrepreneur of the Year award by business advisory group Ernst & Young.
He will travel to Sydney this month for the award’s national competition, where he will be speed-interviewed and assessed against other state finalists by judges.
Mr Fraser, who owns six other Little Scholar childcare centres across south-east Queensland, said the business win recognised the work by he and his team to put children and their families first.
“Winning the award was so special as it was a recognition of all of the hard work my team and I have put in to create really special places for children and their families,” he said.
“The process forced me to reflect on our business.
“So much was to gain from the process and I can’t wait to implement the new learnings into the business.”
Mr Fraser – a former general manager at G8 Education – set up Little Scholars School of Early Learning at Redland Bay last year after revamping an older centre there.
He said he had many sleepless nights establishing and growing Little Scholars since 2014 to become a flourishing childcare business, but the effort was worth it.
“It is about making childcare centres deliver what parents need,” he said.
“It’s a one stop-shop.”
Yoga, cooking lessons and studies in foreign languages are offered as part of the curriculum, as is indoor and outdoor play.
Mr Fraser, who has a degree in education, said working in childcare was his top career choice after leaving high school, gaining experience in the field by volunteering at his aunt’s centre.
“I always knew I wanted to work with children, ever since I was in high school, this was my goal,” he said.
He was awarded the Young Manager of the Year award in 2011 and is on the board of the Australian Childcare Alliance.
Mr Fraser encouraged prospective parents to visit Redland Bay’s Little Scholars School of Early Learning to find out more.
The centre is at the corner of Tathra Court and Main Street, Redland Bay.
For more, visit here.
