Meet the Judges
We are proud to introduce a respected panel of judges for the Nottingham Baby and Toddler Community Awards 2025, each bringing a wealth of expertise, experience, and dedication, as well as a genuine passion for celebrating the best in activities, services, and products that support and benefit families in our community.
Nicole graduated with a first-class honours degree in business and management and shortly after her degree completion she founded Core Aquatics in 2016. Nicole and Core Aquatics are multi award winning. Core Aquatics deliver high quality swimming lessons to children (3 years plus) up to and including adults through small groups and private lessons. Core Aquatics work with international and UK charities to either train their team or support clients with other abilities towards their lesson fees.
Alongside Core Aquatics Nicole works across the UK training individuals to become swimming teachers and lifeguards and providing ongoing training. Nicole also provides Internal Quality Assurance services on various courses across a range of disciplines. In the education sector, Nicole guest lectures at various universities within the business and sport faculties UK and internationally and mentors’ students.
Nicole holds various voluntary positions supporting young people in education and is a Chair of Governors of a Nottinghamshire Primary School.
Nicole is committed to supporting the Nottingham Baby and Toddler network and proud to headline sponsor their 2025 awards as the group reflects her values and contributes to community impact around helping others with life challenges and life skills.
Emma is a Business Awards Adviser, she works with small business owners to build awards strategies - to boost confidence and visibility and business opportunities through awards. She supports clients with finding awards, writing entries, repurposing content and promoting their achievements.
Emma has been self-employed for 8 years - running a small business as a franchisee and supporting small businesses on a freelance basis, including managing the Club Hub awards since 2020. Combined with a background in higher education she has almost 20 years experience of managing, assessing and advising on university scholarships and business awards.
Tim Freed
Tim is the co-founder of two innovative businesses – Toddle About and Book That In – both designed to make life easier for families and small businesses. With a passion for simplifying the complex, Tim’s work focuses on fostering real-world connections and creating meaningful tools for parents and professionals alike.
Toddle About, launched in 2010, helps parents discover local baby and toddler activities and services, offering trusted recommendations through regional magazines and baby shows, and a national online directory. Book That In is an intuitive booking system that automates admin tasks for small businesses and franchises, saving time and enabling them to focus on their clients.
Both businesses reflect Tim’s commitment to helping families and communities thrive.
Tim refers to himself as an unlikely tech entrepreneur - whilst he is passionate about leveraging technology for good, particularly to save time and improve efficiency, away from the keyboard, he enjoys a simpler life with his wife Ruth, home educating their three children, keeping chickens, and prioritising ‘real’ time over ‘screen’ time. A regular squash player, Tim balances his career with an active, hands-on lifestyle.
As a sponsor of the Nottingham Baby and Toddler Awards, Tim is delighted to support such a powerful initiative that celebrates and enriches family life.
Hi I'm Suzie, first time (and full time) mum to Henry, born March 2023. My husband, Callum, and I live in Wollaton having lived in various places across the country before settling here in December 2019, we were drawn to Nottingham for the buzzing city life and vibrant events and so Covid forcing us to stay in our house for months at a time just after we moved here was just perfect!!
My professional background is varied but I have spent the majority of my working life in hotel management in Yorkshire and the Lake District however currently we have decided that I will be a stay at home mum and so all my event management experience goes into planning toddler related activities!
From Pregnancy through to present day, I have found the Nottingham baby and toddler community to be so supportive and welcoming. I try and take Henry to a variety of different classes and venues all across the city and I am always in awe of the wonderful people who have created such innovative and inclusive environments for our little ones.
Last year, I was thrilled to collaborate with Rebekah and take on the role of an Admin & creator for the Nottingham Baby & Toddler Community Facebook group, where I have had the pleasure of supporting and providing guidance to 6k families and providers across Nottingham. Look out for more exciting things to come!
The NBT awards are a fantastic way of celebrating our local champions and I am honoured to be part of this community.
Tessa Day
Hi, I'm Tessa Day, I'm a Children’s Activity Provider, Founder and Director
Club Hub is the UK’s largest children’s activities directory. It provides children’s activity providers with an essential platform to promote their businesses to parents and carers. Parents can locate children’s clubs and activities for antenatal to 18 years, anywhere in the UK, on our website or app, a fantastic resource for all their out of school clubs and children’s activities needs. The directory is free for parents and carers to access and search.
Oh, hello there, lovely people! I’m Beck, but you can call me Bongo Beck, BeBop Beck, Milkshake the Elf, the Easter Bunny, Rebecca McGloworm, or whatever quirky little nickname you’ve called me over the years! Honestly, the more ridiculous, the better!
I’m absolutely chuffed to bits to be back judging the Nottingham Baby and Toddler Awards this year. What a delight it was last year to discover so many incredible businesses and the brilliant people behind them. It’s an honour (and a hoot) to return for another round of fun this year.
I’ve been a proud part of the early years community here in Nottinghamshire since 2009. Back when my first little one arrived, I decided to put my music and performing skills to good use and launched a preschool music and movement group called Bongo Bongo. Over time, it grooved its way into BeBops Music! I’ve always believed that kids are, hands down, the best people on the planet. Give them a warm, creative space to play, and they’ll grow into absolute legends. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to entertain thousands of families across the Midlands and work with some smashing corporate clients, from Capital One to the Theatre Royal and everything in-between. After five fab years of bongo-ing about, an opportunity popped up to create something truly magical: a music festival for families! It was the stuff of dreams, so naturally, I dived in headfirst. And in 2014, the Gloworm Festival was born! Fun fact: the name “Gloworm” was actually chosen by families and kids in my classes. Fast forward to 2016, and the first festival came to life. Now, in 2025, I’ve stepped back from my preschool classes and the Gloworm Festival (kind of) to spread my wings a little.These days, I’m more of a freelancer. I’m the event manager for Fever’s Candlelight Concerts and Seed Talks in the East Midlands (ooh, la la!). But, you know, something was missing.
I realised I really missed connecting with people on a deeper level, so I took the plunge and earned a diploma to become a family celebrant. Now, I create bespoke naming ceremonies, weddings, vow renewals, and funerals and I’ve gotta say, it’s an absolute honour. Meeting amazing people, hearing their stories, and adding my creative spin? It’s pure joy. Freelancing has been an absolute treat. It’s given me the flexibility to work with a marvellously mixed bag of clients, and I’m loving every moment of it. Life’s a bit of a wild ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Hi, I am Vanessa!
I am passionate about supporting families be at their best, healthy, financially secure, happy and in harmony.
During my background in local government and regeneration organisations, I spent many years helping to shape local public policies that would improve the lives of families across Nottingham, Lancashire and beyond.
Today, I blend my role as a home educator with being a lifestyle and Holistic well-being coach supporting leaders of family-led businesses. I am passionate about supporting my clients in group and individual settings. I believe I am a high vibe coach who aims to support to gain clarity and ignite new ideas. With the aim to successfully achieve your desired goals with ease and flow! My strategic enterprise coaching support will also elevate your business focus. This holistic support will assist you to increase your sales and flourish at every stage of your journey.
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I host a range of events to help professionals and business owners focus on personal and professional well-being. The sessions aim to provide you with opportunities to network and gather information. Our events are high vibe and fun. Expect to experience a range of activities to strengthen your mindset and personal development.
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I am a Licensed Zumbini Instructor who enjoys hosting a range of well-being, music and social exercise classes for caregivers and their families across Nottingham.
I am looking forward to supporting the Nottingham Baby & Toddler Community Awards