Putting on a show at the annual Dragons’ Den backed franchise conference

In the pursuit for outstanding, a Dragons’ Den backed theatre school franchise

went above and beyond at their recent annual conference. With a No Business Like Show Business theme, the Head Office team went to town and pulled out all the stops to create a Conference where franchisees were able to hone their skills, network with their colleagues, listen to the latest PR, marketing and social media advice and enjoy the wonderful entertainment that was laid on.

The Razzamataz Conference and Awards night is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the network over the year. Razzamataz has been operating as a franchise for 13 years and during the Conference, the network was able to celebrate the many anniversaries of the franchisees including a number of five-year ones, ten years and even 12 years. In fact, only circa 2% of franchisees do not renew their agreement.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the day is actually hearing about the successes and challenges that Principals face on their day to day journeys. Keeping with the show theme, Phil Cole, Principal of Razzamataz Leeds spoke about his professional background with joint Principal Jude Hill. Both Principals have long and varied careers on stage and TV and explained how they are using this experience to inspire their young students and create a PR and marketing buzz. Next to speak was Charlotte Olivares who explained her journey from work experience student at Razzamataz Medway to the Principal of Razzamataz Maidstone, a thriving business that has students currently in professional work on the West End stage. She also explained how being a Razzamataz franchisee has enabled her to leave her full-time job as a school teacher to pursue her dreams of being a theatre school owner and find a role that allows her creative, financial and flexible freedom. Especially important now that she is a first-time mum.

Every year, Razzamataz Head Office put on a ‘secret challenge’. Previous years have included a fire walk and cryptic chase. This year, franchisees were treated to a Mamma Mia! dance session with a professional performer from the show.

“The secret challenge is a way to get franchisees to step outside their comfort zones,” says MD and Founder of Razzamataz Denise Hutton-Gosney. “Our network is all about supporting and challenging each other to push their businesses further and seeing what can be achieved.”

After such a busy day, another highlight this year was the wonderful evening performance by some of the students of Razzamataz Sutton Coldfield who were selected to entertain all the Principals before the Awards celebration. They joined a host of professional performers including a stilt walker and show girls and boys to provide a fun ending to the wonderful day.

To conclude a truly wonderful day and night, the Awards ceremony was a chance for everyone to congratulate the franchisees on their successes of 2018.

The Franchise of the Year Award is the much sought-after award of the evening and the judges were looking for someone who shows above and beyond commitment. For the fourth year running, Hayley Limpkin and Emily Miller, joint Principals of Razzamataz Medway were delighted to accept on behalf of their students and teachers. “Thank you so much for the recognition and Awards, we are really proud of what we have and are achieving at Medway but we can only do this with your continued support, belief and trust in us and the crazy ideas we continue to put before you,” says Hayley. “We were really overwhelmed last night with how supportive everyone in the network was about these wins but this is a reflection of the culture that you breed and have grown over the last nearly 20 years.” 

Razzamataz are getting set to celebrate their 20-year-anniversary in 2020 and will be looking back on all the opportunities that have been created. There are lots of business prospects for a range of people looking to get into franchising and who have the enthusiasm and passion to run their own business with an established franchisor behind them.

For those that have the passion, but who do not have the full experience or background to launch the full Razzamataz Theatre School, Razzamataz Early Years Franchise has been created to cater to the demand for people wanting to work in the children’s performing arts industry. “This makes the franchise much more accessible to a wide range of people who can combine it with another part-time job or looking after children, helping to support more woman and people into franchising,” says Denise.

If you would like to be part of a franchise business that thrives on supporting young people, come along to one of our Discovery Den days held in various venues throughout the UK.
To find out more, chat to Head of Recruitment Steve on E: steve@platinumwave.co.uk or call 07585 709 136.
There are currently opportunities to take over existing schools in Hackney, Wimbledon and Reading.

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Who won what at the Razzamataz Conference

Franchise of The Year Award:
Hayley Limpkin and Emily Miller from Razzamataz Medway.
These Principal has continued to show the commitment and passion to the brand in so many ways and the franchise never slows down or stops reaching for their goals.

Business Builder:
Shanley Booth, Razzamataz Derby
For an impressive Saturday launch and continuing to have a passion for the brand after twelve years.

Brand Ambassador:
Lauren Bill from Razzamataz Weymouth.
Since 2011, this franchisee has been one of our most committed, talented and hard-working franchisees.

Best New Franchisee:
Georgia Hill from Razzamataz Bristol North
This Principal is truly passionate about her school and the opportunities that she wants to provide for her students that we envisage a bright and promising future.

Rebecca Rennie Award:
Helen Bell from Razzamataz Sheffield
By following the Razz system and her own proactive approach and tenacious mentality, our winner is a fantastic example of what can happen when you say ‘yes’.

One to watch Award:
Kayleigh Redford from Razzamataz Newcastle
Starting out with limited business knowledge, this Principal has taken on the challenge of learning everything from scratch and has consistently impressed us with her ability to keep asking questions and reaching out to learn more.

#BelieveInYou Award:
Claire Walford from Razzamataz Yeovil
This franchisee has been with us for a number of years, has shown consistent and steady growth in her business and always puts her students at the forefront of everything she does.

Outstanding Contribution:
Nick Furlong & Gemma Hextall from Razzamataz Sutton Coldfield
Their aspirations plus their willingness to not only learn but also share their own learnings has led to huge growth in their school in just a few years. 

HO Team Choice:
Charlotte Olivares from Razzamataz Maidstone
Her journey is one of most inspirational in the network and shows how her drive, patience and hard-working attitude has given her a business that she can now run alongside being a mummy to her new baby daughter.

Most Outstanding School:
Hayley Limpkin and Emily Miller from Razzamataz Medway
From nurturing young talent, to supporting their team, to being an integral part of the local community to creating stars! They really do encompass all that Razzamataz has excelled to do since conception.

Most Outstanding Team Member:
Rachel Mowbray from Razzamataz Mansfield
Her promotion to assistant principal has been a pivotal part of allowing for expansion within the school and there seems to be no problem she has not been able to solve! She is a true inspiration.

Best Customer Service:
Lauren Kirkbride from Razzamataz Penrith
Great success stories and always an appetite to improve. But the one thing that really stood out for me was not being afraid to reverse opinions!

Best Community Spirit:
Nick Furlong & Gemma Hextall from Razzamataz Sutton Coldfield
They have forged many professional connections to further the students, they have created great opportunities for the community to engage with Razzamataz and have gone above and beyond with many creative workshops and training days and programmes within schools.

Best Showcase Award:
Debbie Mitchell from Razzamataz Carlisle
The video was stunning to watch and truly was a remarkable piece of theatre. This was no Showcase this was a stunning piece of theatrical performance!

Well done to all Razzamataz Franchisees!

 

Let’s hear it for the boys!

The benefits of performing arts have been well documented for children and young people. Improved fitness, confidence and social skills are just some of the reasons why parents encourage youngsters to join a group or theatre school.

Traditionally, performing arts have seen to be a sector that attracts more girls than boys but with a current curriculum covering street dance, pop singing, acting for camera as well as musical theatre, Razzamataz theatre schools is proud of the number of boys and young men within the network of schools.

“We have recently worked with street dance crew Diversity who are celebrating their ten years’ anniversary and have been quoted about how perceptions that dance is just for girls are changing,” says Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and Founder of Razzamataz. “The benefits of performing are so great and it is wonderful that boys have more role models now to look up to.”

Testament to this ethos, at a recent Razzamataz performance at the Indigo at the 02, the stage was full of both girls and boys having the time of their life. “Boys dancing, singing and acting has definitely become more acceptable thanks in part to popular TV shows,” adds Denise. “But there can still be resistance and negative stereotypes for boys around the performing arts, which is why it is important to have role models for boys to look up to.”

Within the Razzamataz network, there are some wonderful male Principals that have enjoyed successful careers in the performing arts and some of the male students are going on to secure places at prestigious performing arts colleges plus gaining professional work including a role in hit West End musical Hamilton. “Our younger students really look up to the older boys and male teachers and they are learning that it is a really cool thing to be involved with. In terms of building strength, endurance and stamina, dance is really a sport and you have to be fit to do it properly.”

“Boys love to dance and perform from a young age just as much as girls,” adds Denise. “Our Tots classes for toddlers have many boys who love to get involved in the imaginary worlds the teachers create. But as boys grow up, they do become more self-conscious and often start to see performing as a girl’s activity. At Razzamataz, we are so proud that this is really not the case and our students, both girls and boys, work together and support each other to create brilliant work both on and off stage.”

Parents wanting to get their sons into a healthy activity for the New Year can look to the many benefits that performing arts offers: better posture, increased self-confidence, more discipline and focus, teamwork, creating individuals, better co-ordination, a connection to emotions and learning to be fearless.

With many parents concerned over the amount of time their children spend on screens, being part of a theatre school may be just the solution they are looking for.

Throughout the UK at individual Razzamataz schools, there are free trial sessions taking place in early 2019. Simply find your local school and contact the Principal for a free session.

If you would like to be part of a franchise business that thrives on supporting young people, come along to one of our Discovery Den days held in various venues throughout the UK. To find out more, chat to Head of Recruitment Steve on E: steve@platinumwave.co.uk or call 07585 709 126.

There are currently opportunities to take over existing schools in Hackney, Wimbledon and Reading.

 

Thriving franchise sector shows no sign of slowing down

A recent report reveals the healthy state of the franchise sector and how during 2018, it produced a huge range of career opportunities for those entering the market.

At the launch of the 2018 bfa NatWest Franchise Survey, the 31st time the association has distributed the report, findings proved to be record-breaking on many levels. The study highlighted how franchising continues to thrive and enable career opportunities.

Since the last report was published, the net contribution to the economy has grown by over £2bn to £17.2bn, franchise units are at an all-time-high at 48,600, 710,000 people are employed in franchising, a rise of 89,000, and there are more female franchisees and more under 30 franchisees than ever before.

To highlight the points around youth and female franchisee ownership, 37% of new franchisees in the past two years have been female, a huge rise of 20%, and 30% of all franchisees are now female. At Razzamataz, a Dragons’ Den backed theatre school franchise, the overwhelming majority of the franchisees are female, although it is wonderful that there are successful male franchisees who make fantastic role models for the students.

One of the main reasons is the flexibility that the franchise model offers, which attracts many working parents to the business as Kayleigh Redford, franchisee of Razzamataz Newcastle explains: “I’ve got a baby and a four-year old and I can work out my schedule around them so I can be there for them when they need me.” Debbi Ledwith, the franchisee of Razzamataz Newbury adds: “Due to a change in my personal circumstances, I wanted to spend more time with my three young children and needed more flexibility in my working life than teaching could give me. I am able to do my work when they are in bed, so I don’t lose any time with them.”

The survey also highlighted that 18% of all franchisees are also reported to be under 30, rising from 3% in 2015, and of new franchisees in the past two years under the age of 30, 52% were female. “We have certainly seen many more young people come into our business and with our support and guidance, have gone on to have very successful theatre schools,” says Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and Founder of Razzamataz. “When we select the people who we want to become franchisees, we are not looking for experience as such. What’s more important is the drive and determination they have to make the school a success with our support.”

Nick Furlong and Gemma Hextall are the joint Principals of Razzamataz Sutton Coldfield, who have successfully grown their school term on term and are a shining example of why young people make wonderful franchisees. They took over the school when Gemma was 22 and Nick 23.

“It was a dream we had always had, to run our own theatre school, but never imagined it would be so soon,” says Nick. “We ambitiously, nervously and excitedly took the plunge and embarked on our most challenging, busiest yet magical project of our lives. To say it has been life changing would be an understatement. We grew the school beyond what even our youthful optimism could have ever imagined. By the end of year one the school was double the size and to date, we have grown the school by over 540% from when we took over. We now employ the most incredible team of ten staff and run on a Tuesday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.”

The bfa NatWest Franchise Survey states that franchising is enabling people from all walks of life to thrive and Denise could not agree more. “As we approach our 19 years in business, it is amazing to look back on what our network has achieved,” she says. “2018 was particularly special for our Medway franchisee Hayley Limpkin who was awarded two awards in the British Franchise Association Awards. Having studied franchising as part of her Masters, she was attracted to the strong and credible brand that Razzamataz has.”

Hayley opened her school in September 2010 after working in a lead marketing agency for seven years. She decided to swap the busy corporate life for her dream of owning her own theatre school. However, in November 2014, Hayley’s young son had a very serious illness which led her to reconsider the structure of her schools. “I strongly believe that if I had continued in my corporate career, there would have been no way that I could have continued to work after Finlay’s diagnosis,” says Hayley. “The wonderful thing about being in a Razzamataz franchise is that we can build our own teams and create the flexibility that works for every individual.”

For the first time ever, Denise and the Head Office team have extended a special opportunity to interested franchisees to be invited to the network’s Conference in Birmingham in January 2019. A group of specially invited potential franchisees will meet the MD, other school Principals and find out more about the theatre school and franchising in general.

To find out more, chat to Head of Recruitment Suzie on E:suzie@razzamataz.co.uk or call 07793 054 233. For more details visit: www.razzamataz.co.uk.
There are currently opportunities to take over existing schools in Hackney and Reading.