Fashion – Enter CEO Featured as an ‘Unsung Hero’

June O’Sullivan, The Early Years Social Entrepreneur, is a pioneer for positive change. June saw the need for something completely different – a new model for outstanding nurseries which could operate in poor neighbourhoods, offer the highest quality education with a specialist pedagogy, employ and train staff from local diverse communities and, most of all, have a social conscience at its heart.

Key successes under June’s direction include: LEYF’s awarding winning pedagogy, embracing the theory and practice of teaching; spearheading a national campaign to recruit more men into the sector, recognising that gender balanced workplaces are good for children; establishing the Ofsted Big Conversation to build a positive conversation with the regulator across the UK and helping tackle childhood obesity (the UK’s biggest public health crisis – 12% of toddlers are now two stone overweight). 

On June’s website https://juneosullivan.com/ she regularly features interviews with individuals that are doing good and making positive change. In the current climate of COVID-19 June has picked out individuals that are putting themselves at risk by providing essential services for the frontline. Titled ‘The Unsung Hero Interviews’ one such individual is our very own CEO at Fashion-Enter Ltd, Jenny Holloway.

To read the full interview tap this link: https://juneosullivan.com/the-unsung-hero-interviews/jenny-holloway/

Here is a taster:

What was a typical work day like before the corona crisis?

Actually very similar but as we have furloughed 80% of our staff I have even more jobs to do!!!

I had more face-to-face meetings – each Monday we used to have the Weekly Team Meetings (WTMs) and we have updated on KPIs and forecasts – these aren’t happening now and I miss that – I miss the team!

When the outbreak started, what was your initial reaction?

This is going to be bad! Sometimes it’s the fear factor that’s worse than the actual cause. I have fabulous friends that have not been out for seven weeks and they are fit and healthy without any underlying health issues but they just won’t come out.

I also did think we were late to start on lockdown, on social distancing etc. The peak has been around April 7th and we had confirmation that the virus was going to grip us in February. I remember thinking surely we will never get to 20,000 deaths, a civilised country with our health care system! We are now over 30,000!

What impact did this have on your day job and how did you adapt?

As soon as the lockdown was inevitable I basically banked as much cash as I could. ASOS were brilliant as we had made stock that was not delivered but they paid for it anyway and we had been chasing our old debtors from December onward, so that also put us in good stead.

What are the big challenges you have faced / are facing as the pandemic continues?

I don’t think that people want to come back to work and work the same way anymore…I know that I’m struggling with this. At it’s worst when I couldn’t go out shopping and get food in I seriously thought “who cares about clothes when there is no food on the plate!” We are now making scrubs and other PPE supplies and actually this feels right and worthwhile. I am not sure about making frocks any more but hey, I have staff to pay!

With thanks to June O’Sullivan