A NURSERY manager has won a national award.

Area manager at Treetops Nurseries Ltd, Liz Keelan, received the National Management Today (NMT) award, the most prestigious award of the nursery sector, after being selected from hundreds of applicants for her role as operations and regional manager.

Liz, 36, who looks after three nurseries in Neston, Wirral and Chester, was nominated for the award by her colleagues for being a women who goes ‘way beyond her job role’.

The award, presented by actress and TV presenter, Sally James, was held at a ceremony at the London Hilton Metropolitan hotel.

Leanne Devaney, nursery manager of Hopscotch day nursery in Chester, collected the award on behalf of Liz and said she couldn’t be more delighted.

She said: “Liz regularly visits our nursery, and has an excellent relationship with the children.

“The ceremony itself was amazing, I felt like I was at the TV awards. I ran and grabbed my phone straight after the ceremony to tell Liz. She was over the moon.”

Liz who has shown a great passion for her job after being involved for 20 years said that the award came as a total surprise: “I had absolutely no idea I was going to win. It means a lot actually winning, but being nominated by the company meant more – knowing what your bosses think of you.”

Judges who chose Liz praised her for her commitment to high standards and the means by which she addresses her role, and added that it was her enthusiasm and dedication that made her stand out.