Our Story

Susan Mills, Founder and CEO
Joined 1993

Susan founded Cherubs Nurseries in 1993 and continues to serve as its CEO, remaining the driving force behind the company’s vision and values. With a Certificate in Education and decades of hands-on experience, she is still actively involved in the day-to-day running of the nurseries. Susan is deeply committed to using the business as a force for good — ensuring every child, family, and team member experiences a brighter day, every day.

Harry Mills, Director of Brand Development
Joined 2012

Harry joined the family business in 2012 and went on to graduate from Bournemouth University in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management. He also holds a Level 3 qualification in Early Years. With a strong foundation in both education and customer experience, Harry is passionate about making Cherubs Nurseries a brand of choice for families. He remains focused on driving the company’s growth and ensuring its continued reputation for quality, care, and innovation in early years education.

Sarah Savage, Head of Operations
Joined 2006

Sarah has been part of Cherubs Nurseries since 2006, progressing from Nursery Manager to her current role as Head of Operations. With a Bachelor of Education and Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), she is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance, and quality across the group. Sarah also leads the Cherubs Nurseries Academy, where she inspires and mentors the next generation of Early Years apprentices, helping to shape the future of the sector.

Lucy Tutin, Head of Early Years – Quality
Joined 2016

Since joining Cherubs Nurseries, Lucy’s passion for early years education and her ability to inspire others have played a key role in upholding the quality and reputation we’ve built since 1993. As Head of Early Years – Quality, she leads on driving continuous improvement in teaching and learning across the organisation. Lucy is dedicated to delivering our vision: to give all children the personalities, skills and experiences they need to take on the world without limitations.

Carla Clarke, Head of People
Joined 2021

Carla is a Qualified Teacher with an MSc in Human Resource Management and CIPD Level 7 accreditation. She brings together her early years expertise and passion for people to cultivate a strong, forward-thinking, people-first culture at Cherubs Nurseries. Her work ensures that every team member feels supported, valued, and empowered to deliver the very best in early years education.

Dionne Atkinson, Head of Training and Development
Joined 2021

With a strong commercial background gained through years of experience at E.ON, Dionne brings valuable insight to Cherubs Nurseries. She is dedicated to designing impactful training and development programmes that not only support our strategic goals but also nurture the individual career aspirations of our people — helping every team member grow and thrive within the business.

Heather Nash, Head of Parent Experience
Joined 2013

With extensive experience in early years education, Heather leads our Parent Experience Team with insight and a deep understanding of what families need. A passionate advocate for Cherubs Nurseries, she is dedicated to creating outstanding first impressions and ensuring every new child and family feels welcomed and supported from day one.