About

About us

First Steps supplies quality staff for children’s centres and schools, provides quality childcare in its footprints@ settings, and offers pre-employment support through its Paths to Prosperity programme.

Our staff work in services run by children’s centres and others, for children aged under 5 and their families, and for families in their home. Our aim is that these staff add value to the vital work undertaken by children’s centres and other organisations through our staffing solutions service.

Our footprints@ childcare settings place child and family at the heart of all they do.  We currently operate two footprints@ nurseries, in Netherton and Hatton Hill in Litherland, and Kings Kids After School Club in Ainsdale.

Our Paths to Prosperity service offers help to those looking to take next steps towards employment

We strive to provide a quality, competitive service which meets the needs of centres and others and work within the Early Years Stage Foundation.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity organisation. We offer our services without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.

We also provide programme management, and consultancy, learning and other associated services.

Who Runs First Steps Enterprise?

From left to right: Sarah, Ann, Natallia, Ian, Carole, Loukia.

Ian is the Managing Director of First Steps Enterprise.  He has worked for providers of childcare services for over twenty years. As Managing Director of First Steps, he has seen it successful grow over its ten years of operation, supplying children and families staffing services, three childcare settings and learning projects across Merseyside. He works closely with a number of services in Sefton and Liverpool. Ian is the nominated person for our three Ofsted-registered services in Netherton, Hatton Hill (Litherland) and Kings Kids (Ainsdale) on both the Early Years and Childcare Registers.  He is also the organisation’s Designated Senior Safeguarding Officer.

Sarah is the Deputy Manager of First Steps Enterprise, and oversees quality assurance of childcare provision, and is a qualified Early Years professional. She has worked in children’s centres for over four years. As a School Readiness Worker, Sarah has supported vulnerable families, worked in partnership with other professionals, and has acted as lead practitioner on team around the family (TAF) cases for families on the threshold of social care. Sarah has developed and delivered universal and targeted groups that promote all areas of the EYFS, empowering families in supporting and understanding the early learning goals for their children and in being ‘school ready’.  She played a key role in the development and running of two nursery settings that support vulnerable children on the 2-year-old offer. Sarah has also worked in a local primary school as a Support Advisor for parents.

Jennifer  is the other director of First Steps Enterprise alongside Ian.  She is a Year 2 Teacher and has taught in primary schools for over eighteen years. Jennifer also spent five years working for a community organisation in an outreach and school assembly role, working with children up to the age of 11 and their families.  She also works for First Steps Enterprise one day per week in a job share with Ann.

Ann is our Administrator with over 20 years’ experience.  She has worked in a variety of organisations, including children’s centres, training providers, social enterprises, and local businesses.  Ann undertakes HR and company administration.

Nataliia is our Finance Officer with over 15 years experience in finance.  She has worked in a variety of medium and large organisations in Ukraine, providing finance services to them.  Nataliia undertakes all the finance functions of the company.

Carole is our Enterprise and Work Coach, and works on our Paths to Prosperity programme.  Carole successfully ran two hairdressing salons for many years before moving into becoming a Business Advisor, working for organsiations such as Blue Orchid and the Women's Organisation.  Carole has supported many businesses start up and grow, and is also an experienced trainer.  She currently supports people on their journey back into work or self-employment through the Paths to Prosperity Programme.

Loukia is our Recruitment Consultant for the agency part of the business.  Loukia has experience working in education, health services and providing support to people at university seeking work.  Loukia interviews many of our candidates and prepares them for interview.

Charmaine is our Recruitment Resourcer and Social Media Support.  Charmaine has worked for a number of organsiations previously supplying this service.  In the agency part of First Steps, Charmaine helps us find candidates, provides administrative support and keeps our social media on track.