What is a Children's Activity Franchise?

The Children's Activity sector provides thousands of hours of preschool and school age children's classes, events and parties in the UK. It caters for all children's needs and interests so includes everything from cricket clubs to soft play hire to language tuition and everything in between including Nature Makers!

Like the rest of the industry we rely on a dedicated team of Activity Providers to deliver our signature classes and within the Children's Activity industry the most common method of expansion and recruitment is through a Franchise model, but what does having a Franchise in the Children's Activity industry actually mean?

A franchise is a business model in which an established company (the franchisor - in this case Nature Makers Ltd) grants the rights to another individual or entity (the franchisee) to operate a business under its brand name and with its proven business system. The franchisee pays an initial fee and ongoing royalties or fees to the franchisor in exchange for the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, products, and services and for support.

Franchises can be found in various industries, including fast food, retail, hospitality, automotive, health care, and many others not just the Children's Activity Industry and you may recognise some of the names including: McDonald's, Hilton Hotels, and UPS. It works well for these types of businesses as well as Children's Activities because the activities can be replicated in the different locations and then adapted where needed to local requirements; this is where the knowledge of a local franchisee helps. They will likely know the area, understand the market and any local restrictions, customs or regulations.

Franchising offers people the opportunity to start their own business with the support and resources of an established brand. In our case for instance, we provide franchisees with training, marketing assistance, operational guidelines, and ongoing support to help ensure the success of the franchise. In return, the franchisee follows the established business model and agrees to operate according to the franchisor's standards and guidelines like our guidelines on branding and how to deliver a class.

Anyone* can buy a franchise however, it would suit someone that is wanting to be their own boss but reduce certain risks and receive the support of a central team.

For our franchise opportunity I look for people that are passionate about our planet, want to work with children and families and are creative with ideas. For everything else we provide the kit, training and support!

In 2023 we announced our new 12 month Mentorship Programme for new franchisees. This is to ensure that the team receives all the opportunities possible to make their business a success with our help and guidance. We work together to agree on a launch plan and strategy for the first year. This is supported by 1-2-1 mentoring and small group sessions along with external training from Children's Activity industry experts such as Cerys Keneally and Kristine Monaghan.

If you are interested in hearing more about our franchise opportunities then head to our Franchise Opportunities page here and download our Prospectus.

Thank you

Faye - Director of Nature Makers Ltd

* An application process with reference checks & DBS is likely as a minimum to ensure suitability to the brand before purchase of a franchise.