THE owner of an independent Newport firm has won a prestigious business award.

Laura Tenison, founder and managing director of JoJo Maman Bebe, which sells mother and baby clothes and products, was named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of The Year, after growing her company from scratch to in 1993 to a turnover of £21 million a year.

The Gwent boss cycles to work and encourages her staff not to take a "jobsworth" approach to work.

Some of the 280 employees at the firm, based in Spytty, have been with the company since it started, benefiting from Ms Tenison's ethos of social enterprise - and wanting people to enjoy their job.

"You spend a lot of time in work so it's important staff aim to achieve something and come away at the end of the day with a sense of satisfaction rather than having a jobsworth attitude," the 43-year-old said.

"I am keen to encourage staff to further their education and to get involved in a charity we support in Africa. I want as many staff as possible to go to Africa to see what we are doing to support people."

The mother of two set up her business with a single sewing machine, renting a disused carpentry workshop near Pontypool.

"I encourage staff to pursue their dreams in life and offer flexible shifts, school hour shifts and the chance to work from home. We have husbands and wives working for us who swap babies over in the car park as they arrive and leave for work."

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Well done Laura

WE have always known that Laura Tenison ranks among our best businesswomen.

And it is fitting that she was yesterday named Veuve Cliquot Businesswoman of the year.

Her business JoJo Maman Bebe was born after a trip to France in the early 1990s and has gone from strength to strength.

Long may her success continue.