Four years ago, the world was living with the harsh realities of the COVID-19 pandemic – in the UK,a new three-tier system had been introduced before the nation would inevitably end up in another lockdown by 1st November. Many businesses were impacted, and in-person meetings became a thing of the past.
Fast-forward four years and children’s services franchise, Stagecoach Performing Arts, is celebrating a triumphant return to in-person franchisee training. The first franchisees to benefit from this significant reunion are new recruits Adekemi Opoola, Jessica Rampling and Lauren Roberts.
Adekemi Opoola will be at the helm of the Stagecoach franchise in Sittingbourne, Jessica Rampling will lead the Burghfield Common franchise, while Lauren Roberts will operate two franchises in Finchley Central and Mill Hill East & Totteridge and Whetstone.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Adekemi, Jessica, and Lauren into the Stagecoach community,” said Andy Knights, CEO of Stagecoach Performing Arts. “It was especially exciting to welcome them to our head office in Woking as they benefited from in-person training. The very nature of the work that we do at Stagecoach – teaching children aged 4-18 how to sing, dance and act – means that we are the definition of ‘people people’. As a team really value time one-on-one with our franchisees, whether new or more established.
“The aim of our franchisee training is to enable franchisees to achieve optimal results for their businesses and students. We focus on understanding individual goals and definitions of success to empower franchisees to reach their full potential. Building strong connections with our head office team is integral to their success, and we know that these connections are best forged in person. The return of our in-person training was a real opportunity for that. We loved meeting Adekemi, Jessica, and Lauren and can’t wait to see what they will go on to achieve with their respective franchises.”
Two of the four territories that Adekemi, Jessica, and Lauren have invested in are brand-new schools. In 2024 alone, 31 existing locations have been taken over by new and existing franchisees, bringing the number of investments to 34 overall.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for our brand,” added Andy. “As we look to 2025, and a schedule full of seminars, our ‘In The Spotlight’ forum initiative and, of course, our annual conference, we are very happy to be five years on from a time where we couldn’t be together!”
For more information about franchise opportunities with Stagecoach, visit www.stagecoachfranchise.com
