Liz’s Journey into Childminding in The Scottish Borders
LIZ TAYLOR, Lizzie Bizzie’s Childminding, Scottish Borders
Liz is an experienced childminder who has built a successful childminding business in the rural village of St Boswells in the Scottish Borders.
When the opportunity arose to relocate, Liz left behind her successful banking career in London and seized the opportunity to follow what had always been her real passion – working with children.
“I had my first child shortly after moving to St Boswells and I just loved my maternity leave – and I knew I didn’t want to return to working in finance. I had always wanted to work with children, it was a passion from an early age which I didn’t pursue at the time, but I knew professional childminding would steer me into a new career path and enable me to follow my passion. Becoming a childminder meant I could also be there for my own family as they were growing up – and earn an income. It was a light-bulb moment for me and completely changed my life.”
“I would encourage anyone who is passionate about working with children and who is thinking of a career change to go for it! Childminding provides so much variety and is so rewarding. I never know what the day is going to bring, I look forward to each day - it’s a world away from my previous job in finance and my long commute to work!”
Is there demand locally for professional childminders?
Lizzie Bizzie’s Childminding is the only childminder operating in the village of St Boswells – her business is a vital community asset, providing high-quality flexible childcare for families. Unfortunately, not all parents have access to this kind of childcare locally, and more childminders are urgently needed in Scottish Borders to meet demand. Existing childminders receive lots of enquiries from parents looking for spaces within their setting, which often, they just don’t have capacity for.
Support to get started – and throughout your career
There is a fantastic package of support available to get started including dedicated, one-to-one support from SCMA, as well as a minimum £750 start-up grant and free training through the Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future. Once registered, additional and on-going support is available in Scottish Borders through the Scottish Childminding Association and our dedicated Childminding Development Officer, Cecile Recio.
Cecile brings six years of experience as a registered childminder, alongside a professional background in teaching, to her role as the Childminding Development Officer for the Borders. She continues to run her own childminding service, which keeps her closely connected to the realities, joys and challenges of the role. “Across the Borders we really need more childminders so families can access flexible, high-quality childcare close to home. Childminding is such a meaningful career. You’re supporting children’s development and wellbeing every day, and you’re also offering something very valuable to families in your community. What I’ve always loved is the relationships you build over time : caring for a baby, then seeing them grow into a confident school-aged child. You get to know the whole family, and that trust becomes something quite special.”
Thinking of changing career, or supplementing income?
Childminders in Scotland come from all walks of life and a huge range of different backgrounds. Part of the attraction of a career in childminding is the freedom and flexibility it provides to design your own working pattern – you could choose to work full time, part time, or even to provide after-school care only, if this is what suits your own family life.
Many have had successful past careers in other sectors but have made the switch as it has enabled them to combine caring for their own children with running their own business from home and earning an income.
Childminders reported previous careers in banking, as police officers, within retail, in hairdressing, nursing and teaching. They can draw upon their rich and diverse background experiences to inform their day-to day practice. You don’t need any previous childcare experience to become a professional childminder – but you do need to be passionate about working with children!
Liz would highly recommend this career path. “I would encourage anyone who is passionate about working with children and who is thinking of a career change to go for it! Childminding provides so much variety and is so rewarding. I never know what the day is going to bring, I look forward to each day – it’s a world away from my previous job in finance and my long commute to work!”