Stagecoach franchise welcomes 10 new franchisees one already has students performing in the West End


Stagecoach celebrate as 10 new franchisees launch their performing arts schools and one teacher-come-business owner is already sending students to perform in the West End!

Ten former teachers, dancers, a beauty therapist and an events manager: their careers may be diverse but they all have one thing in common - a passion for the arts and a desire to make a difference in children’s lives. This dynamic line-up are the latest business owners to join Stagecoach’s rapidly expanding franchise family. They kicked off their Summer terms with a bang this week as each became Principal at their very own Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools across the UK.

Despite leaving school with no GCSEs, Zoë Bird’s natural singing talent propelled her to the heights of working with the likes of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. After a 20-year career in performing arts, Zoë took a step back from the limelight to take care of her young family. Keen to remain in the arts, she began teaching singing classes at her local Stagecoach school. Excited by the impact classes had on students, she soon realised she could share her love of performance with many more children if she became a Stagecoach franchisee herself.

Zoë is now the Principal at Stagecoach Rugby and as well as building a successful business, she’s driven by seeing the effect of the life-skills children learn throughout their Stagecoach journey, “In a short space of time, I can already see the progression in our students as their confidence is boosted with even the shyest of children taking up lead roles in productions.”

The Stagecoach brand is incredibly well known and respected in the performing arts industry and Zoë has wasted no time in utilising this to her student’s advantage! “Because of the weight the Stagecoach brand carries, we were able to arrange for one of the stars of West End show ‘Mamma Mia’ to work with our school. They helped students on a performance of ‘Guys and Dolls’ which we’re going to perform at the Rugby Festival of Culture in June. Equally exciting, last month, our students were able to be part of a smaller performance of the same show on stage in the West End.”

For almost 30 years, the Stagecoach model has been proven and refined to become one of the UK's leading performing arts opportunities. Franchisees build a team of equally passionate and enthusiastic teachers, qualified to bring out the very best in their students. Stagecoach schools provide a thriving, nurturing and supportive environment for creative learning. That’s just one of the reasons why 40,000 children every week flock to classes nationwide.

Victoria Amey trained as professional dancer before opening her own dance school in Berkshire. Fifteen years later she sold her business, relocated, and began teaching dance at her local Stagecoach school. Just like Zoë, after seeing the impact of classes on children’s confidence and ability, Victoria was inspired to take on her own business again. Already confident in the Stagecoach model having worked at a thriving school, she felt certain she could replicate the success of so many other franchisees.

She launched her Stagecoach franchise in Melksham and Chippenham at the beginning of May, this year, and is looking forward to taking an active role in the business: “As a Stagecoach Principal, you’re there to make sure you hire the best teachers, create a culture of ‘creative courage for life’ and ensure the safe care of your students; all of which grows a sustainable, profitable business. As the Principal, I’ll be overseeing every class and I’m already loving seeing the enthusiasm and progression within every child.”

Today, a network of more than 300 franchisees operate over 650 schools offering 1,645 classes in eight countries. Through an exciting and varied framework of teaching and development, franchisees have helped to unlock the potential of more than one million students since it opened in 1988!

“We’re proud to welcome 10 more fantastic franchisees into the Stagecoach family. Whilst many obviously do, you don’t have to have a background in performance or teaching to be a Stagecoach Principal; you just need a passion for improving the lives of children and desire to develop your own successful business,” says Andy Knights, Chief Operating Officer at Stagecoach.

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