Over the last four years A4e’s Business Success for Childcare team has worked with over 40,000 childcare practitioners and 150 Local Authorities, developing and nurturing the business, management and leadership skills of childcare practitioners and professionals. In 2003, A4e began delivering business support training, initially on behalf of the Sure Start unit of the Department for Education and Skills. The programme was designed to improve the business sustainability of the childcare sector, looking to safeguard the future of such an important industry. The success of the programme was well documented with independent research showing 95% of ‘team managed’ childcare business reported that they had managed their business more effectively as part of the training. When the delivery contract with Sure Start ended, the team at A4e modified it’s offering, working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that the success of the programme could be extended, ensuring continuity for the sector. To date over 3,000 training workshops have been delivered.