A businesswoman awarded the Winner of Winners at this year’s Telegraph & Argus Business Awards is creating new jobs as she continues to expand her venture in Bradford.

Danielle Dixon, co-owner of Kinder Haven Nurseries, who also won the Woman in Business award this year, opens her latest nursery later this month at the former King’s Head pub in Halifax Road, with capacity for 78 children, after education watchdog Ofsted gave it the go-ahead.

It is the fifth Kinder Haven and is in partnership with Bradford Early Years. Miss Dixon already has Kinder Havens in Sticker Lane, Wakefield Road, Westgate Hill and Pudsey. All are either converted pubs or churches, and the average cost of each development is £400,000 plus the cost of buying the properties.

The businesses look after 400 children from about 300 families.

Eleven vacancies, including apprenticeships, have been filled for the new site, with vacancies for cooks and other staff expected soon.

Mrs Dixon said of her latest venture: “Ofsted were in this week and were absolutely delighted with what we have done.

“It is in a listed building and we have managed to retain the more historic features with the combination of the old and new features.

“It was so nice to hear that feedback from an inspector and we will have the certificate within a week.

“We anticipate recruiting in another couple of months for more staff after getting 11 jobs in the last four weeks.

“Some apprentices have been employed and some have no childcare qualifications but we are putting them in the programme.”

Mrs Dixon had a challenging start in life, including being excluded from primary school at the age of five. But she believes such an upbringing instilled in her a determination to make the most of every opportunity.

e-mail: dolores.cowburn@telegraphandargus.co.uk