What started as a way to harness her talent and at the same time be at home with her baby daughter led trained opera singer Jane James to starting a small business that is now franchised across the UK.
Little Voices was established 16 years ago when, as a new mum, Jane realised the uncertainty and travelling that defined the life of a performing artist was no longer for her. Instead, she put her skills to good use and set up drama and singing classes for children. The idea was not about seeing them hone the skills that would make them stars of stage and screen, but more about helping them build their self-confidence and social skills as well as their performing skills.
“It all began with a small class on a Tuesday evening at a local community venue,”
said Jane.
“But its reputation grew quickly and the results were great, and before too long I was being approached by people who were asking if they could run more groups in the area.
“Once it got to the point 11 years ago where I decided to set up a franchise, I was determined to do everything right. Children’s activity groups are not monitored the way schools and nurseries are and I don’t think a lot of parents appreciate that. From the start, I wanted everything to be above board.”
Little Voices is accredited by the Children’s Activities Association, which requires DBS checks, insurance and specific safeguarding, HR and recruitment policies to be in place for all those involved in running classes, and by the British Franchise Association (BFA), which supports franchisors and franchisees at every level of their journey.
Jane said:
“I think it’s been a success because I take my time working with potential franchisees and making absolutely sure they are supported through the decision-making process. It can be anything between six months and two years before we’re happy that it’s the right fit for both sides. I want to take time to make sure it’s the right time for that individual, that they have the teaching style and personality to make it work, and that they are supported in making their own decision about whether to go ahead or not – you can’t rush into it because that’s often when things don’t work out.
“Success means different things to different people – it could be that a franchisee is happy with one small group once a week, and that’s fine. Some, on the other hand, make this a full time living, employing their own teams and earning upwards of £100,000 a year. Whatever their approach, it’s really just about how they run a business that has such a fantastic impact on children’s lives.
“As part of the decision-making process, we can invite them to see other classes in action and introduce them to other franchisees. Once we decide to go ahead, there’s a 12-month training programme that takes them through each stage of the business, not just running the classes, but things like accountancy and marketing.”
Being a member of the BFA meant that Jane herself had expertise to call upon as she was setting up her franchise, and has given Little Voices national recognition after Ellena Morgan won Next Generation Franchisee of the Year in last year’s bfa HSBC Awards, against a list of finalists that included some major household names.
Jemma Bird, who runs Little Voices in Brentford, Ealing and Wembley, said:
“I was a music teacher in a school for children who had been excluded. I’ve always had a passion for music and my job showed me how rewarding it was to help children grow in confidence and develop, but I’d always had a business brain as well, and was full of ideas of what I could do.
“For me, the support from Jane and other franchisees was what made all the difference. You’re running your own business, which is what I had dreamed of, but you have the Little Voices franchise as a basis for setting up and then growing, and you have an amazing network of support should you need it.
“It’s still hard work, a franchise isn’t all there on a plate for you, and the fact that I was doing all this for myself really motivated me to get out of bed and get on with it each morning when I was starting out. I can’t believe how far I’ve come in the past five years and I’m very proud of where I am now, employing my own team and watching the business grow, and of watching the children develop their confidence through music and singing and gaining skills that will stay with them throughout their lives.
“A lot of people have doubts about franchises, but from the start I could tell that Jane was completely professional. Being a member of the BFA is a guarantee that everything is being done properly, and add to that the fact that you can just tell by talking to Jane how committed and passionate she is about Little Voices.
“I admire her so much for what she has achieved, and want the same success for my business. I’ve tried to take what I’ve learned from her and how she approaches things and apply that to how I have built my team. She’s an inspiration to me.”
Find out more about Little Voices at https://littlevoices.org.uk