Surrey mother shortlisted for National Inspirational Business Mum Award 2007

• Thursday, 25 January 2007

25 January 2007 - Guildford-based Katie Mayne, founder of TinyTalk, the UK’s favourite baby signing company, has been shortlisted for the Inspirational Business Mum of the Year category in the 2007 Prowess Awards, which recognise the contributions made by UK women in business.

The Inspirational Business Mum of the Year award is given to an entrepreneurial mum who has juggled the demands of motherhood and starting up a new business- and got the balance right, with a story to inspire many others. Katie’s story certainly fits the bill. Katie is currently in the top 6 out of over 150 applications.

As a mum of two, primary school teacher and teacher of the deaf, Katie saw the benefit in teaching babies how to use sign language to help them communicate before they can talk. In 2002, she set up TinyTalk (www.tinytalk.co.uk) and, following an appearance on ITV’s This Morning show, TinyTalk was the first baby signing organisation to go national. In little over three years, TinyTalk has grown to over ninety teachers in the UK teaching over 2000 families in over 200 classes per week in locations from Aberdeen to the West Country and the Channel Islands. TinyTalk has also just gone abroad with the first TinySign classes in Sydney, Australia and Dubai, UAE beginning after Easter 2007.

“I am thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, out of so many inspirational mums, supporting both their business communities as well as very much being there for their children too!” says Mayne. “TinyTalk classes support parents in really understanding their babies, but we also provide mums with the opportunity of starting up their own family-friendly businesses as part of a very strong supportive team.”

TinyTalk classes provide entertainment in an educational and fun setting for both babies and their carers. Learning can continue at home through the TinyTalk signing pack, CD, video and interactive DVD. The TinyTalk Baby Signing DVD and Baby Signing Pack both recently won the coveted Silver Award in the 2006 Practical Pre-School Awards. TinyTalk use BSL (British Sign Language) as its sign language of choice.

Other categories in the Prowess Awards include Business Support Professional of the Year, Making an Impact, Press Award, Innovator Award, Female Mentor of the Year, Inspirational Women and Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development.

The Gala Awards Dinner during the 4th Annual International Prowess Conference at Brighton Racecourse, 7 February. For more information, go to http://www.prowess.org.uk/conference/Awards.htm

Notes for editors:

For further information, the chance to speak to Katie Mayne or images, please contact:

Melissa Talago
Peekaboo Communications
Tel: 01635 248 496
Email: melissa@peekaboocoms.co.uk

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