Reflecting on Winning the NMT CEO of the Year Award: Amol Devani

Winning the CEO of the Year Award for Groups under 10 Settings at the National Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards is something I feel incredibly proud and humbled by. More than anything, however, the experience has given me an opportunity to stop, reflect, and truly appreciate how far Bright Little Stars has come over the last twelve years.

In truth, I almost did not submit the application at all. It was my team who encouraged me to put myself forward. They reminded me that whilst the award may carry an individual title, everything we have achieved at Bright Little Stars has always been a collective effort. Bright Little Stars is built on passion, dedication, care, and commitment. Receiving this recognition has only reinforced how fortunate I am to work alongside such an exceptional group of people.

The awards process itself was far more meaningful than I originally expected. Completing the application forced me to step back from the pace of daily operations and reflect properly on the journey we have been on as a company. Like many business owners and leaders, I am usually focused on the next challenge, the next nursery, the next improvement, or the next problem to solve. Rarely do we stop and consider what has already been achieved.

As I worked through the application, I found myself reflecting on the incredible team we have built, the families who have trusted us, and the culture that has developed organically over time. It reminded me that whilst growth is important, what matters most is how you grow and the values you protect along the way.

When we opened our first Bright Little Stars Nursery in Mill Hill in 2013, our vision was relatively simple: create an environment where children could thrive, families felt genuinely supported, and employees could build meaningful long-term careers. Coming from a corporate and highly regulated professional background, I had experienced fast-paced and performance-driven environments, but I found myself wanting to build something with greater social value and community impact. Early years education offered that opportunity.

Today, Bright Little Stars has the privilege of caring for around 900 children and employing more than 300 people, with further nurseries planned in Hornsey and Enfield over the coming years. However, one thing that became very clear to me whilst reflecting on the award submission was that many of the decisions we made over the years, often difficult or slower commercial decisions, were the right ones for our people, families, and long-term sustainability.

Compared to many of our peers, we have expanded at a much slower pace, but this has always been intentional. We chose to focus on sustainable growth, protecting quality and culture above all else. We own the land and buildings for every nursery we operate, allowing us to continually reinvest into our educational environments, our people, and the long-term future of the company without short-term external pressure. At Bright Little Stars, we have always believed that innovation is not simply about technology. It is anything that improves children’s experiences or strengthens what our employees can offer families. From the opening of our very first nursery, ParentCam access has reflected our commitment to openness, transparency, and building trust with parents. Alongside this, we have continued to invest in learning environments, SEND support, sustainability initiatives, staff development, and parent partnerships. Over the years, we have introduced initiatives such as our Parent Educational Programme, School Readiness Workshops, specialist educational support, and our annual Maintenance Week reinvestment programme.

One of the areas I reflected on most during the process was our investment in people. Early years is an incredibly rewarding profession, but it is also demanding, and strong nurseries are built by strong teams. Over the years we have invested heavily into staff wellbeing, development, and progression. Our Bright Little Stars Careers Academy was designed to create clear pathways from Apprentice level through to Leadership and Management, and seeing employees progress internally has become one of the greatest pleasures of my role.

Five of our six current Nursery Managers each began their journey with us in junior roles and developed through the company into leadership positions. Looking back at those journeys while preparing the application made me feel enormously proud. Awards may focus on leadership, but leadership only truly matters if you are helping other people grow alongside the business.

What has perhaps surprised me most since winning the award has been the positive energy it has created across the company. I have seen how proud our teams have felt, not just for me personally, but for Bright Little Stars as a whole. Employees across our nurseries have celebrated the achievement together, and there has been a genuine sense of shared pride.

For me, that has probably been the most rewarding part of all. Seeing employees who have worked incredibly hard over many years feel proud of the organisation they are part of has been very special. The award has created renewed energy and motivation across the group, and it has reminded all of us of the standards, culture, and vision we are collectively trying to build.

Another aspect of the experience that I have greatly appreciated has been the response from the wider early years sector. Since the awards evening, I have received countless congratulations from colleagues across the industry, including fellow operators, service partners, consultants, and property professionals. It has reinforced something I have always believed about early years: whilst it is an incredibly hardworking and challenging sector, it is also one filled with passionate people who genuinely want to support each other.

The networking opportunities that have come from the awards have already been incredibly valuable. New conversations and relationships have developed with partners across training, technology, property acquisition, and operational support. I would encourage others to take a leap of faith and apply next year as well. The awards ceremony itself was a fantastic evening and a real celebration of such a passionate and hardworking sector. Whilst I obviously will not be applying again next year, I certainly plan to be there supporting and cheering on all the future finalists and winners.

Although this award is a wonderful milestone, our focus remains very much on the future. Over the coming years, we will continue to grow carefully and responsibly, opening new nurseries whilst protecting the quality and culture that define Bright Little Stars. Whilst we will sometimes make mistakes, we will always aim to learn, improve, and stay true to our values.

Finally, I would simply like to say thank you to our incredible employees, our Nursery Managers, our Head Office team, our families, our children, and all the partners who have supported us throughout this journey. This recognition genuinely belongs to all of us.

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