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British Orchard Nursery to expand in UAE and GCC

Ms Gandhi is a first women entrepreneur who secured the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award since its launch in 2005.

Dubai: Winning quality awards in any category is not an easy task for any organisation, but securing such international acknowledgments one after another in a challenging nursery services industry sector has become a routine affair for British Orchard Nursery.

The Middle East’s largest nursery chain came into limelight on Wednesday when its services again acknowledged by the Government of Dubai by rewarding it with Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award for excellence and outstanding achievements in services sector.

“It was like a dream comes true to achieve such a highly coveted award that recognizes our contribution to the UAE’s economic development and commitment to quality,” jubilant Vandana Gandhi, chief executive and founder of British Orchard Nursery, told Khaleej Times after receiving the honour at a graceful ceremony attended by dignitaries, heads of government departments and a large number of businessmen.

In fact, Ms Gandhi is a first women entrepreneur who secured the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award since its launch in 2005. Her nursery also won Dubai Quality Appreciation Award, Dubai Human Development Appreciation Award 2014 and many other prominent awards in recognition of their excellence, innovation and creativity.

Sharing her feelings after the award, the CEO of the nursery said more than 1,200 organisations representing different economic sectors applied for the honour in past one decade, but only 109 companies to-date have been awarded.

“British Orchard Nursery has become the first company in schooling sector to won this prestigious award. It is the first-ever company founded by a woman and run by almost 100 per cent women workforce, which makes this award all the more beautiful,” she said.

Gandhi felt no hesitation in sharing the transparent and tough procedures adopted by the panel of judges to assess the winners and said all 14 nurseries across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah were visited by the Singapore-based assessors who evaluate the British Orchard’s system, quality of services and safety of children, among others.“We are not providing day care services in our nurseries and rather offering personal care and individual to each child and have won the trust of their parents,” she said, and attributed the credit to her dedicated team and support of the UAE government which offers conducive environment to businesses in the country.

To a question, she said robust measurement tools are designed to assess the children performance at the nurseries.

“We have introduced in-depth Arabic curricula at a very early stage and inculcate culture and values to children. We have also incorporated Arabic language, Islamic studies, UAE culture and values as an integral part of the curriculum along with well researched teaching methods,” Gandhi elaborated.

She said about 95 per cent of parents have rated the nursery exceptionally high on curriculum, safety and care standards as per the annual quality audit feedback.

In reply to a question, she said plans are on cards to expand British Orchard’s network in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council.“We are open to expand the network through joint ventures and franchise,” she said.

muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com