A past winner at Epsom's business awards who recently won a major contract with Mothercare is urging local companies to follow in her footsteps.

Paula Dixon, 34, from Epsom, founder of Jellybugs, a soft play area and cafe, which was set up in the Harrier Centre, West Ewell in 2009, was awarded the Best Overall Business and Best Small Independent Business at the first awards ceremony in 2011.

And her company has now won a contract to open soft play areas and cafes in Mothercare stores across the country.

A judge for this year's Epsom and Ewell Business Awards, which are sponsored by the Epsom Guardian, she is urging people to nominate businesses and individuals before the deadline on September 30.

Mrs Dixon, a mother-of-five, said: "The benefits of being part of the awards was that we were taken seriously in the local business community - soft play is not like running an accountancy firm. 

"It was good to have recognition and the support of Chris Grayling and raise awareness to increase our footfall.

"It’s also good for the customers to know we have been awarded something like that."

Explaining how she had got the Mothercare contract she said: "I found the email address for the new CEO and contacted him directly to pitch the idea. Then I went to the head office and met them.

"Part of the CEO’s turnaround plan for Mothercare was to install soft play area in the stores.

"I’m very proud and overwhelmed to see the Jellybugs name on the store and almost become a household name. 

"It’s nice that all your hard work finally pays off."

The first two play areas will be installed in stores in Gateshead and Solihull in the next few weeks, with the Jellybugs signage and brand to be put outside the stores.

Mrs Dixon said the play areas will then be installed in another four stores in the north and Northern Ireland by the start of 2016, and be rolled out across the country.

Your Local Guardian:

The launch of the Epsom and Ewell Business Awards earlier this year at Metro Bank

Jellybugs is based in Kingston's Rotunda complex, but is no longer based in Ewell.  Mrs Dixon is looking for larger premises in the Epsom area.

Epsom and Ewell Business Awards are open to all businesses and individual traders working within the borough, whether well established or new to Epsom and Ewell, Ashtead, Nork and Tattenhams.

There are nine award categories, which are: Best Overall Business; Commitment to the Community; Customer Service; Best Business Personality; Best New Business; Best Business in Epsom and Epsom Downs; Best Business in Ewell and Stoneleigh; Best Business in Ashtead and Best Young Entrepreneur.

The awards will be presented by Chris Grayling MP at a drinks reception on November 20.

Nominate now at www.epsombusinessawards.co.uk.