Winner: Danielle Dixon, of Kinder Haven Nurseries

A self-confessed ‘low achiever’ at school who went on to become a hugely successful businesswoman, Danielle Dixon really is an inspiration.

Danielle was raised on the Holme Wood estate, had unemployed parents and admits she missed a lot of school as a child.

But she said it was her determination to “keep on trying, keep on changing, keep on evolving” which had been the making of her.

After the nursery business co-owner was announced as the night’s ‘Winner of Winners’, compere Jon Hammond asked her to say a few words to the packed banqueting suite.

In an emotional speech, Danielle said: “This absolutely means the world to me. I was a low achiever but a hard worker.”

Afterwards, Danielle said the ultimate accolade really had taken her by surprise.

She said: “I was so emotional. I wasn’t expecting it. I was just having a drink of orange and I nearly choked!

“This is fantastic, just amazing. I’m ecstatic. My kids will say it’s ‘sick’.

“Academically, I was a low achiever from a low social background.

“I lived in Holme Wood, my parents didn’t work. I didn’t go to school much as a child.

“I was predicted low grades and I actually got really good grades. I had teachers who believed in me, I suppose.”

Asked what the secret of her success was, Danielle said: “I think it’s just passion and drive and proving to everybody that you can succeed, no matter what, if you believe in yourself and surround yourself with positive people.

“Then whatever’s thrown at you, you have to keep on trying, keep on changing, keep on evolving.”

Danielle also paid tribute to the team behind her.

“My team is everything to me. They lift me, they ‘get’ me, they listen. We share ideas together, we bounce ideas off each other and we have grown together.”

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