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Kelly Hill Recognised with Influential Woman in Business Award for Early Years Education & Workforce Impact 2026

The founder of The Early Years Company has been recognised for her contribution to early years education, workforce development and the wider support she provides to professionals across the sector.

Kelly Hill of The Early Years Company has been named the recipient of the Influential Woman in Business Award in Early Years Education & Workforce Impact 2026, recognising a career built around improving outcomes for children while supporting and developing the people who work with them.

Kelly’s journey into early years began after leaving school and training as an early years practitioner at college. Her interest in working with children had started much earlier, and she quickly developed a strong understanding of just how influential the first five years of a child’s life can be.

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Early Years Company Influential Woman Award Logo v1

Starting her career as a nursery nurse, Kelly worked directly with children before gradually expanding the scale of her impact. Over time, her focus evolved from supporting individual children to developing the adults, teams and organisations responsible for their care and education.

Today, through The Early Years Company, Kelly supports thousands of nurseries and early years settings across the UK through training, coaching, consultancy and workforce development. Her work also extends to nurseries, schools and local authorities, with a strong emphasis on practical strategies that can be applied in real settings.

One of the areas Kelly values most is the wider impact that professional development can create.

When somebody attends training with The Early Years Company and tells us that it has changed their thinking or their practice, that doesn’t only affect them. It potentially affects every child and family they work with for the rest of their career.

That ripple effect remains central to her work. By helping professionals strengthen their knowledge, confidence and approach, Kelly believes positive change can continue well beyond a single training session, ultimately influencing the experiences of children and families across the sector.

Her leadership has been shaped by determination, adaptability and a willingness to change direction when necessary. She credits grit, integrity, a strong work ethic and being prepared to ask for help as important parts of her journey.

Early Years Company - Influential Woman Digital Plaque

Kelly has also learned the importance of surrounding herself with people whose strengths and experience complement her own. Rather than trying to have every answer herself, she now places greater value on listening, learning and seeking advice from people who understand the challenges she is navigating.

That perspective has been particularly important during difficult periods. Alongside building and running businesses, Kelly has raised three children, including many years as a lone parent, while also managing chronic illness, major surgery and periods of significant physical difficulty.

Her experience has changed the way she now views resilience. Rather than seeing resilience purely as continuing to push forward, Kelly has learned that it can also mean recognising when to stop, rest or temporarily step away. It is a lesson that has influenced both her personal life and her approach to leadership.

One principle has remained particularly important throughout those challenging moments:

“Never give up on a bad day. I’m only allowed to make that decision on a good day.”

Kelly also credits the people around her for helping her through demanding periods, including Stacy Mann, who has been a longstanding source of support, encouragement and belief throughout her journey.

It is an idea now becoming an increasingly important part of the next chapter of her career.

Through The Invisible Load, Kelly is exploring the thinking, planning, remembering, preparing and anticipating often carried by women alongside careers, businesses, families and caring responsibilities.

She is developing The Invisible Load Reset, alongside a book planned for 2027 and a wider community designed to help women recognise the weight they are carrying and understand that they do not always have to carry everything alone.

The project reflects a significant evolution in Kelly’s own outlook.

Earlier in her career, success was closely associated with growth, turnover, revenue and reaching the next business milestone.

Today, her definition is very different.

Freedom, health, family, impact and choice have become increasingly important, alongside having the ability to spend time with loved ones, travel and step away from work without feeling that everything will collapse.

Within early years, however, Kelly remains deeply committed to increasing the impact of her work. She is particularly proud of the people who have developed within her nurseries and businesses and of seeing professionals grow in confidence, knowledge and leadership.

For Kelly, one of the most fulfilling parts of her role remains seeing someone change the way they think or work as a result of training. The most meaningful feedback is not simply that somebody enjoyed a session, but that they went back to their setting and did something differently. When one professional changes their practice, that change can influence every child and family they go on to work with.

It is this wider impact that continues to drive Kelly’s work across the early years sector.

Winning the Influential Woman in Business Award in Early Years Education & Workforce Impact 2026 has also given her an opportunity to reflect on how far that journey has come.

For someone naturally focused on the next idea, target or challenge, receiving the recognition has created a moment to acknowledge what has already been built.

Rather than seeing the award as an ending or destination, Kelly views it as recognition of one chapter as another begins.

With plans to continue growing The Early Years Company, expand its contribution to early years education and workforce development, and take The Invisible Load into its next stage, Kelly’s journey continues to bring together professional impact, lived experience and a commitment to creating healthier, more sustainable ways for people to work, lead and live.

Kelly Hill is an early years leader and founder of The Early Years Company, supporting thousands of nurseries and settings across the UK through training, coaching and workforce development. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for children by strengthening the confidence, knowledge and wellbeing of the professionals who support them.

Kelly Hill is an early years leader and founder of The Early Years Company, supporting thousands of nurseries and settings across the UK through training, coaching and workforce development. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for children by strengthening the confidence, knowledge and wellbeing of the professionals who support them.

Contact Details

Phone: 07765715515
Email: kelly@theearlyyearscompany.co.uk
Website: www.theearlyyearscompany.co.uk