Chocolate entrepreneur Claire Burnet has a message for government: “Take childcare seriously. Stop creating ridiculous hurdles for women-owned businesses.”
“The idea that after-school care should be run as charities with parents involved in their administration is utterly ridiculous,” says Burnet, who set up Chococo with husband Andy in 2002.
She says it’s becoming impossible to employ working mums after 3pm because childcare is either poor or non-existent in her local area of Swanage. “Doesn’t the government realise that the working world doesn’t stop at 3pm or during the holidays?
“To add further insult to injury, several of the precious childminders in our area have given up, as they were swamped by legislation. One now works for us packing chocolates!”
She urges the government to give schools the budget to provide reliable after-school cover.
“Help female business owners employ other women full-time.”
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