A former student from Stratford-upon-Avon College is thriving as her small business continues to grow.
Molly Lewis, who studied Fashion at the College from 2021 to 2023, developed a range of transferable skills during her time studying and now runs a flourishing childcare business.
Molly’s choice to study at the College was easy: “I chose Stratford-upon-Avon College because it had an excellent reputation and offered the perfect balance of professionalism, support and a relaxed learning environment.
I had originally planned to attend Sixth Form, but after visiting the College, I immediately felt that the environment was much friendlier and more supportive. Everyone I met seemed to genuinely care about the students, and I felt that it would be a much less stressful and more enjoyable place to learn.”
Molly had also always had an interest in Childcare but when deciding what course to pick, she chose her passion for Fashion: “Although I had always known that I wanted to work in childcare, I also wanted to spend two years studying something I genuinely loved. The Fashion & Textiles course gave me the opportunity to develop my creative skills while still keeping my options open for the future.”
She loved her time at college, really enjoying the supportive and professional relationship between students and lecturers: “The college environment felt much more like a real workplace than a traditional school setting, which helped build confidence and independence.
My lecturer, Louisa Figus, was absolutely amazing. She supported me throughout my entire time at college and always took the time to offer advice and encouragement. Her support enabled me to achieve the grades I deserved and gave me confidence in my abilities.”
Some examples of Molly’s work at college
Alongside her time at College, Molly initially started a small childcare business to earn some extra money. Over time, the business grew steadily through recommendations and word of mouth. After leaving college, she increased the number of hours spent babysitting and began advertising her services. The response was overwhelming, and she quickly became fully booked.
She now runs her own bespoke private childcare business, Molly Lewis Babysitting, offering regular nannying, ad hoc babysitting, wedding nannying, event childcare, emergency childcare, and childcare for families staying in hotels or holiday accommodation.
She has supported over 200 families, caring for children from newborn to 14 years old, including those with a wide range of additional needs such as autism, ADHD, developmental delays, and medical conditions. She holds comprehensive qualifications and training, including Paediatric First Aid, safeguarding, communication and language support, and allergy awareness, alongside an Enhanced DBS and GDPR registration. Her business is highly regarded, with more than 30 independent five-star reviews and consistently strong demand.
Molly’s creativity can be seen constantly in her career through engaging childcare activities
Molly’s journey shows that following your passions can lead you in lots of positive directions: “Your career path does not have to be fixed from the start. Although I always knew I wanted to work in childcare, I chose to study Fashion because it was something I loved. Those two years allowed me to develop my creativity, confidence and independence while continuing to build my business alongside my studies.”
She continued: “By the time I finished college, everything had naturally fallen into place, and I was able to turn what started as occasional babysitting at age 16 into a successful business. I am now 21 and incredibly proud of what I have achieved.”
Molly’s advice to future students: “There is no rush to decide exactly what you want to do in the future. Studying something you enjoy can give you the motivation and confidence to succeed, even if your eventual career takes you in a completely different direction.”
