And just like that…. A now famous line from an iconic television & movie series that absolutely rings true when it comes to the history of Hessel Group in South Australia.
25 years goes very fast when you’re having fun and for Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Cole, the business has personally bought her satisfaction, growth and a raft of valuable experiences, friendships and partnerships. “With all the changes in the business and the industry, it just doesn’t feel like 25 years,” says Tanya.
Who would have thought when reflecting on humble origins, Hessel Group would today employ almost 200 people over 5 business units and 3 sites across Adelaide. In 1998 in her 30’s with 2 young children, Tanya just couldn’t see how she could return to work in the recruitment industry with the obvious lack of care options available to her family. There, in her loungeroom the idea became a reality with the formation of the still renowned business nannySA.
The idea was to provide care and support to South Australian families who were not able to receive mainstream child care for their children. At all hours, Tanya would letter box drop and meet with families to begin to address this significant gap in the market and restricting the return to work options for parents. Within a couple of years, Tanya had employed a number of nannies and babysitters to meet the needs of a growing client base.
With this rapid growth Tanya moved the business every 3 years into new and larger offices employing administration and finance staff to help with the running of the business. As Tanya’s entrepreneurial eye for improvement and growth was well established by now, she noticed a distinct need for skills in the child care work force and took action to address this with the creation of Enhance Training a Registered Training Organisation specifically offering (and still to this day) accredited courses in Early Childhood Education & Care. Enhance Training has also since expanded to offer courses in Individual Support – Ageing & Disability.
In 2012, Tanya moved operations to new buildings in Fullarton, on Glen Osmond Road where the Head Office remains today. This now includes management, marketing, finance, recruitment, customer care, training staff, therapists and clinicians, who all collaborate to reach of Hessel Groups strategic goals.
What’s more, Tanya was able to take her business model to China where she implemented training courses to build a skilled workforce of educators. She then opened childcare centres before returning home to Australia to continue growing her business now under the re-branding of Hessel Group.
A defining year was 2019 with the addition of the Allied Health and Support Services division. Hessel Group employed a team of clinicians and therapists to provide services to NDIS participants as an approved NDIS Provider. These services take place in their clinics in Fullarton and Welland, and also within the community.
In 2019 Hessel Group also opened Hessel Children’s Centre in Port Adelaide which is staffed by a wonderful team who are skilled and passionate about the development and care of the children and their families. They are community centred and have built strong relationships with local businesses and groups to educate our children because after all, it takes a village to raise a child!
Tanya says, “the advantage of Hessel Group is that it has the ability to change quickly and maximise growth and potential.”
In 2022 they welcomed Brad Seaman as a partner and Chief Strategic Officer. Tanya and Brad are strategically preparing the business for the next 25 years of service to South Australians.
