A Raynes Park business has scooped ‘Employer of the Year’ at a prestigious business awards event.

Business Clan scooped the title at the Federation of Small Business (FSB) Small Business Awards 2018 in the London regional finals.

Launched by mother of two Nicolle Anderson and co-founder Delia Porter four years ago, the company aims to tap into the underused potential of professional women looking to return to the workforce.

Their company now employs 17 women offering small businesses access to diverse skill sets and expertise that larger organisations often take for granted including business planning, marketing, web design, accountancy and bookkeeping.

Nicolle who has two young kids and lives in Raynes Park said: “It is great to be recognised, we were in a difficult category and our team should be really proud.

“We have won four awards in the past and it really is a boost to the team and it is great that we are getting recognition.”

Nicolle met Delia through the National Childbirth Trust where they became good friends and came up with the idea and realised they could use their skills to help firms in South West London grow.

They recognised that hundreds of women with decades of corporate experience were out there and wanted to use their skills but just couldn’t find a way to do this flexibly enough to suit their family circumstances.

Nicolle said: “Our biggest challenge now with a workforce of mums is working around the school holidays as everyone is constrained by the same time frames.”

Development manager at the Federation of Small Businesses for the Greater London area, Denise Beedell said: “The reason for their win was that they had a great business model and a superb entry with great supporting evidence and testimonials showing they are punching well above their weight.

“There is clearly a need to offer those keen to return to work opportunity to find their confidence and talents as they progress at their own pace and I particularly admired the commitment to engage with other genders and groups as part of future plans.”

The company will now go through to the UK finals of the FSB Small Business Awards 2018 on May 3.