Leadership team

James carved out a career through a mix of long hours, self - learning, and a bit of luck. He blends creativity with technical expertise, always striving for excellence and innovation. As Director of Technology, James oversees the website, magazine, video and photo production, and all promotional materials for Snapdragons Nurseries. But his role goes beyond visuals—he is passionate about designing intuitive apps and leveraging technology to streamline operations, enhance employee workflows, and ultimately improve working conditions. Whether it’s developing smart solutions for employee management or reimagining the parent experience, James is always looking for ways to push boundaries and make a real impact.

Jennifer has grown up with the Snapdragons Ethos as her parents began the company when she was 10 years old. She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a PGCE in Mathematics and a Masters degree in Education. After five years working in a school, Jennifer joined Snapdragons before taking on the role of Operations Director in 2014, overseeing the running of the Snapdragons Nurseries. She sits on the Steering groups for the Gloucestershire University Early Years Teacher training course as well as the Ofsted South West reference group.

Matt is married with 2 adult sons and lives in North Somerset. He started his career working in Banking, with his last 10 years in business banking as a financial adviser. He then moved to an accountancy practice in Bath as an IFA. From there he formed his own financial planning business, which he sold in 2023 when he ‘retired’. Matts financial, business & commercial property knowledge has led him to a number of appointments and roles, including as a Director of Snapdragons and 3 other private companies. He is a Director of West Hockey and volunteer with the Strawberry Line Society; roles which suit his sporting and outdoor passions. In his spare time he enjoys hockey and golf, cycling and walking.

Whilst co-founding the company, Paul eventually took on the responsibility of the accounts full-time, leaving his previous position with British Airways. Single-handedly overseeing the number-crunching for almost a decade, his team has since grown, allowing Snapdragons to respond quickly to family queries and account-related issues. He dearly loves his family and his dog.

Rosemary has a PGCE and a background in teaching and opened the first nursery in Atworth as a response to a demand for high quality childcare. She felt that there was a gap in the market for parents who wanted to go the extra mile in their child's early years education and found the demand so great that she was able to open further nurseries over the coming decade, providing outstanding care to children across the south-west of England.

Having grown up around Snapdragons, Sophie officially joined the company in 2022 as a Director. She is currently Director of Training, where she oversees the Apprentice Training Academy alongside the training team. Before this, she worked as Head of Literacy in a South East London primary school, later moving overseas to take on a role as Deputy Headteacher. She is passionate about early education and is committed to ensuring every child has the best possible start in life, with access to high-quality practice and equal opportunities. Outside of work, she enjoys practising yoga and spending time with her family—who she also works closely with. Family life includes her partner and their two children, Juliet and Stanley, along with their two cats, Gaston and Maurice, named with a nod to their love of Disney.

Russ has spent his career supporting people at work, making sure they feel heard, valued, and able to thrive. With a long history in HR and employee relations across the corporate world, he’s now bringing his passion for people to Snapdragons Nursery as Head of People. A firm believer that happy teams create the best environments, Russ is dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone, staff and children alike can grow and succeed. When he’s not at work, he enjoys time with his wife and two children. You’ll also often find him on the cricket pitch either playing or coaching.

Alice joined Snapdragons in 2011 as an apprentice and has since worked her way through a wide range of roles across the organisation, building a wealth of experience along the way. From working in the Toddler Room at Atworth, she progressed through roles including Head of Toddlers, Head of Preschool, Deputy Manager, Head of Early Years Practice, Nursery Manager, and SENCo, before stepping into her current role as Quality and Training Manager in January 2022. Alongside gaining her apprenticeship qualification when she first joined, Alice later completed her BA (Hons) in Early Years Education. In 2018, she was also recognised with the NMT Nursery Award for Nursery Personality of the Year. Alice is passionate about maintaining high standards of care and education and loves inspiring and supporting others to grow and succeed in their roles. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her children, Louis and Bea, making the most of family days out and walks in the sunshine.

Having worked for Snapdragons for over 15 years, Hayley has spent time in many different roles within the company, ranging from practitioner, to nursery manager and now our Safeguarding & Compliance Lead. Hayley successfully achieved an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ whilst managing our Weston nursery and also successfully spearheaded the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Outside of work, she is a thespian at her core and loves to perform, entertain and amuse her friends, family and the paying public.

Lyndsey spent the first few years of her time at Snapdragons as Nursery Manager at our Grosvenor nursery, helping it achieve its first 'outstanding' rating from Ofsted and receiving multiple plaudits in the process, including the prestigious and national 'Nursery Manager of the Year' award in 2013. She now oversees our nurseries in the role of Operations Manager, ensuring standards of care are consistently high. She holds a BA Hons in Early Years Studies.

Laura has a long history of working in finance and comes from a family of accounting staff. She is part qualified to AAT level and has worked in accounts for six years in a range of credit control and bookkeeping roles. Laura is involved in all aspects of customer account with Snapdragons including funding, invoicing, payments and accounts queries. Laura has lived in the UK all of her life and loves to spend time with her husband and children.

Gemma has worked in early years for over 15 years, originally starting as an apprentice. She has always been passionate about working with children and loves to help them develop and grow. A mother herself, at weekends she loves nothing more than having family time with her children and husband. Together, they enjoy lots of bike rides and walks.

Catherine has a degree in Primary Education with Art and Design. She worked for seven years as a school teacher in Key Stage 1, Reception and Nursery and reached the position of Head of Foundation Stage. Catherine then joined Snapdragons where she was a Pre-School Teacher for four years. Next, Catherine took on the job of Advisory Teacher for the Wiltshire Early Years team for two years supporting nurseries and playgroups for the local education authority before returning to Snapdragons as an Advisory Teacher / Trainer supporting staff across all our nurseries. To enhance her early years knowledge, Catherine then gained a further qualification as an Early Years Professional. Catherine works closely with Janey Mondal delivering early years training to both our teams and through the Pickwick Learning Teaching School Alliance.

Liz joined Snapdragons in 2022 as an Early Years Mentor, where she supported apprentices, graduate trainees, and ECTs in completing their qualifications and developing their practice. She is now the Apprenticeship Academy Manager, a qualified assessor, and holds Early Years Teacher Status, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Liz is passionate about supporting the development of future early years professionals and takes pride in helping others grow in confidence and capability throughout their journey. Outside of work, Liz enjoys going to the gym, taking her dog Hugo for walks, and holidaying with her family in their caravan.

Dionne joined the team in February 2026 as People Operations Manager for our Bristol sites. She brings a diverse background in supply chain management and the nuclear sector, and completed her Level 5 qualification in People Management a few years ago. Dionne is passionate about creating workplaces that are equitable, supportive, and genuinely inspiring for everyone. Outside of work, Dionne loves making the most of the countryside, especially in springtime when she can spot lambs on long walks. She enjoys switching off outdoors, embracing the fresh air, and takes pride in being part of the warm, supportive culture at Snappies.

Jess first joined the Snapdragons family as admin assistant for our Keynsham nursery, becoming a friendly face for all the families. She then moved up the ranks to join our HR dream team and deals in all things recruitment. When she isn’t organising interviews or collecting references, she likes to spend her time with her husband Dan and her gorgeous dog Gaston.

Sam is our Forest School Leader for the Bristol nurseries, with a passion for wildlife, outdoor learning and Forest School. She enjoys working with babies, toddlers and preschoolers, helping them explore nature and learn through outdoor play. Sam began her career as a primary teacher, leading science and environmental education and developing outdoor learning spaces. She later worked as an outdoor educator at Bristol Zoo’s Wild Place Project, delivering sessions for school and nursery groups. In 2019, she gained her Forest School Leader qualification and has since spent five years working in nurseries as a practitioner and outdoor learning lead. At Snapdragons, Sam supports children and staff to build skills, confidence and a love of learning in the outdoors.

Annemarie joined the team at Broadwood in 2012, based in the Out of School Club. Since then, she has gone on to achieve her Level 3 qualification and progressed on to Head of Toddlers and Nursery Manager. In her spare time, she loves to draw and spend time with dog, Lola.

Amy used to look after her nieces and nephews and realised how much she enjoyed being in a position where she could care for younger children. She went on to work in a nursery in 2006, gaining her level three childcare qualification over the next few years. After taking a short break to explore the world, she returned to childcare, progressing to become a Nursery Manager in 2012. She's now about to finish her Foundation Degree in Early Years and is enjoying her new challenges at Snapdragons. Outside of nursery, Amy is a keen baker and is often found in the kitchen, trying out new recipes and looking for wiling participants to test her skills on.

Antony joined Snapdragons in July 2025 as part of the maintenance team, supporting the nurseries to ensure they remain safe, welcoming, and running smoothly each day. With a strong background in practical, hands-on work, Antony has built experience across a variety of maintenance areas including general building repairs, plumbing, decorating, carpentry, basic electrical work, preventative maintenance, and health and safety checks. He previously worked maintaining 28 self-contained flats for an assisted living company and also spent time working as a car salesman, which helped develop his strong people skills and approachable nature. Antony enjoys the variety that comes with maintenance work and takes pride in solving problems quickly and efficiently. He values being able to work across different settings, no two days ever being the same, and enjoys knowing his work makes a positive difference for staff, families, and children across the nurseries.

Steve brings a wealth of experience to his role as Head of Maintenance at Snapdragons. Having spent much of his career at ADT, specialising in security systems and installations, he developed a keen eye for detail and a strong problem-solving mindset. Now leading our maintenance team, Steve applies his technical expertise to ensure our nurseries are safe, secure, and well-maintained, keeping everything running smoothly for staff and children alike.

Mary sees herself as a bit of a recluse, but nobody really believes that once they get to know her. She's been around a while now and has worked in a number of areas that allow her to carry out her current job so efficiently. Mary is responsible for organising events and producing the nursery magazine. She also co-ordinates our entries for awards ceremonies and runs various campaigns for Snapdragons.

Katie has worked for Snapdragons for over 15 years, starting her career as a nursery nurse and progressing through the ranks to her current position of Area Manager, overseeing our Weston and Grosvenor nurseries and ensuring that high standards are maintained and consistent. Katie holds a NNEB diploma (level 3) and Foundation Degree in Early Years and has a lovely family of her own, with three children and a doting husband.

Jo started with Snapdragons in June 1998 at the Atworth nursery. She progressed to the position of Nursery Manager before transferring to be manager of the Grosvenor nursery. Following her return from maternity leave, Jo took up a support manage role and is now our Catering Support Manager. Jo supports the chefs in delivering healthy and nutritious food to the children of Snapdragons. Jo enjoys spending time with her two sons, who have both been through Snapdragons Nurseries, as well as being outdoors and playing lots of sport.

Kathryn started life at Snapdragons as Admin Assistant for Atworth. Two years later she moved up to head office and took on the role of Admissions Co-ordinator overseeing the nurseries occupancy and registrations across Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire. Outside of work Kathryn enjoys baking, long dog walks and spending time with her daughter.

Stevie began her journey with Snapdragons as a Nursery Administrator at the Horfield setting before moving to Head Office to support the Finance and Accounts team as maternity cover. She now works as an Admissions Coordinator, where she enjoys supporting families as they begin their journey with the nursery. Stevie is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive experience for families from the very start. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking, and watching football, and loves spending time at home with her tuxedo cat, Sparco, and her baby boy.

Natasha joined the team in 2024 as an Accounts Assistant and has been a valued member of the Accounts team ever since, supporting the smooth and efficient running of the organisation. A firm believer that “everything happens for a reason,” Natasha brings a positive and thoughtful approach to both her work and daily life. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, walking her dogs, and spending quality time with friends and family. She has two dogs, Alfie and Ruby, who keep her busy and active.

Liz started life at Snapdragons as the Nursery Administrator at our Shirehampton site. Two years later she moved into the finance and accounts team supporting the Bristol nurseries. She is responsible for all aspects of our customer accounts, including funding, invoicing, payments, and queries. On the weekend Liz spends her time cooking and exploring the Welsh countryside, that is when she’s not visiting family and friends in London and Cornwall.

Georgina joined Snapdragons after an established career in Hospitality and the arrival of her son. Working in the Finance & Accounts team, she supports the Wiltshire and Bath nurseries in all aspects of funding, invoicing, payments, and queries. When not crunching numbers, she enjoys spending time with her family, actively keeping fit and experimenting with healthy recipes.

Lowenna joined Snapdragons in 2019 as the Shirehampton Administrator and has been a valued member of the team ever since. She is currently working as Financial Accounts Manager on maternity cover, supporting the Accounts team, while her substantive role remains within administration. She is a flexible and dependable member of the team who enjoys working across different areas of the organisation and contributing to its smooth and efficient running behind the scenes. Outside of work, Lowenna enjoys reading and going for walks, taking time to unwind and enjoy the outdoors.

Georgina began her journey with Snapdragons in 2016 in the Baby Room at Weston, where she completed her Level 3 Childcare qualification as an apprentice. After taking time out for maternity leave, she returned as an Early Years Supply Assistant before moving into the office team as an Administrator. She now works as a People and Talent Administrator, continuing to build on her experience within the organisation. One of the things Georgina values most about Snapdragons is the opportunity for internal progression and seeing colleagues grow and succeed, all within a genuinely supportive team environment. She firmly believes in encouraging others to reach their full potential and celebrating every success along the way. Outside of work, Georgina loves spending time with her children, whether that’s heading out on long walks or enjoying a kitchen disco at home. She also enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes.

Annaleise joined the Academy team in March 2026 as Academy Administrator. Before joining Snapdragons, she achieved a 2:1 in both her BA and MA in Childhood and Youth Studies, alongside British Sign Language Level 1, building a strong academic foundation in supporting children and young people. In her role, Annaleise supports the smooth running of the Academy and enjoys being part of a team that helps develop and nurture early years professionals. She values organisation, collaboration, and creating a positive experience for everyone she works with. Outside of work, Annaleise enjoys boat trips, travelling, watching movies, and getting creative with crafts. She has two dogs, Taz and Izzy, who live back in Eastbourne but occasionally come up for a two-week holiday of their own.

Jess has worked with children for over ten years, mainly as a Reception Teacher and Foundation Stage Leader in a variety of settings including primary and special needs schools. She is passionate about giving every child the same opportunities and teaching them key skills through hands-on real-life experiences. She joined Snapdragons as Head of Pre-school. Jess has an undergraduate degree in History and a post-graduate degree in Education with Qualified Teacher Status, specialising in the Early Years. In her spare time, she enjoys going on adventures with her daughter, keeping fit and active as well as going out with friends or reading.

Siobhan joined Snapdragons in 2025 as part of the Snapdragons Academy team, working as an Apprenticeship Tutor. Before this, she worked for an external training provider in a similar role, supporting apprentices within Snapdragons Nurseries. With over 10 years’ experience in early years settings, Siobhan began her career as an Early Years Practitioner and progressed to Nursery Manager. During this time, she gained her Level 4 qualification in Early Years and Level 5 in Education and Training, building a strong foundation in both practice and education. She is passionate about supporting and developing early years professionals and sharing her experience to help others grow and thrive in their careers. Outside of work, Siobhan enjoys designing and building dolls houses and making the most of her free time with her daughter, especially enjoying days out together and creating special memories.