Meet Homebodies Founder Simone Wilson
Simone Wilson who runs a specialist and bespoke nanny agency. I used their services myself, when looking for our nanny. I subsequently asked Simone to share her expertise in finding the perfect nanny; having been through the process myself I know how overwhelming it can be to find someone you feel you can trust. I was lucky to have Simone, to help guide me through the process; I know she will have some incredibly insightful knowledge to share. She is particularly passionate about helping career focused parents get back to work after having a baby. This is so inspiring to me personally, as I think all parents need support to get a work/ life balance in their lives. So read on as I interview Simone and ask her more about her work and life.
Simone, founder of Homebodies London
meet Simone
Simone grew up in Scotland and moved to London, starting her career as a teacher in 1997. She worked in primary schools for over ten years; then in a Children’s Centre, as an early childhood specialist teacher, supporting parents with their babies and toddlers as well as working with the local nurseries and childminders. She felt a passion for working with children and supporting parents, so in 2011 decided to join forces with a friend and set up Homebodies. During this time, her daughter arrived and only 14 months later her twins were born. At the time, without any family support in London, she recognised that having the right nanny was crucial for her to be able return to work and for her sanity! As a parent, having employed nannies over the years herself, she has a real understanding of the partnership and relationship that should exist between a family and their nanny.
As a working parent, how do you achieve a work/ life balance?
My children are now in their teens and my eldest just turned 16 so I have a greater amount of freedom and time on my hands since my three started secondary school. When they were younger I would try to take them to school some days and then pick them up on other days. Time in the car driving home was really valuable as they would tell me all their stories from their day. I have always worked in the evenings as I wanted to have some time to be with my children after school and then go back to my work once they were in bed. Running my own business has also motivated me to work all sorts of hours as I want to make sure I am doing the best I can. My reputation is everything to me.
Being a working is mum is not easy and I am always trying to do things better and find the right balance. Sometimes I get it right and other times I am so busy and I feel the guilt. I know many of my friends are in the same boat so I try to always do my best. I love getting to the end of the week, sitting down with my husband and family and having a well-earned G&T!
What you are reading and listening to right now?
I just finished a fantastic book called A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara. It’s probably one of the longest books I have read but well worth reading! I always read on my kindle and this means I can read at night without keeping my husband awake with the light on. I hate finishing a good book as I feel lost until I find the next book to get engrossed in.
What you love about what you do?
I love a challenge. Each family who comes to me needs something different and no two families are the same. My biggest aim is to really understand what the family are like; what type of nanny they feel will be right for them, what personality traits they have as a family, what the children enjoy doing and how they run their home. By understanding all these aspects of a family, I am able to use my expertise, experience and intuition to find them the perfect nanny.
When a nanny calls me once she starts a new position and tells me that I have found her the most amazing job, I feel so proud that I am making a difference and finding people their dream roles. I know I am doing something right when my clients recommend me to their friends and this is how I have managed to work with some incredible families over the last nine years.
What are your plans for your business, as it grows?
I am really passionate about helping career focussed parents get back to work after having a baby. I know how challenging this can be and you need to find most amazing nanny who you can trust to look after your most precious child.
To better facilitate parent’s transition from home to work I am in the process of working with a number of large high profile companies that are trying to improve their female retention rates and to make some high pressured environments easier for working parents to perform well while at work. Safe in the knowledge that your child is well cared for while you are focused on your work helps everybody involved. Working alongside C-Suite and HR departments I hope I can play my small part in helping successful businesses even more successful by making mum’s return to work even easier.
Homebodies is a specialist and bespoke nanny agency. Our objective is to find the very best and most suitable nanny for each family. We are different to our competitors by being a specialist nanny agency that only focusses on recruiting nannies. This dedication to nannies means that we know exactly what is required of both parties and we build relationships for the long term with families and nannies alike.