What’s your career background – what did you do before you joined Lingotot?
I studied for a degree in French and German and then completed a PGCE. I went into teaching in 2009 and have taught in different Secondary Schools for 9 years, teaching French, German and Spanish. More recently, I decided I needed a change and moved into the FE Sector where I worked as a project manager teaching adults Travel and Tourism on a government funded programme and supporting Leadership and Management apprentices to complete their apprenticeships.
How did you first hear about franchising and what made you choose Lingotot?
I first thought about franchising in 2018. My mental health was suffering as a result of working and commuting so much and I wanted a change to my lifestyle. However, I didn’t feel that it was the right time for me and wanted to improve my business experience. At the beginning of 2020, I began to feel like my commute and working hours were having a negative effect on my family life and my children, so I relooked at franchising and especially at Lingotot. I was missing my languages and wanted to reignite my passion for teaching, but without returning to full time secondary school teaching and all that it entails. Lingotot gave me the opportunity to do all that I loved in teaching, but with the added bonus of being my own boss. I looked at several language franchises, but felt that the support from Lingotot as well as the opportunity to expand my business to teach in other languages using tutors was what made me finally decide.
How does Lingotot fit into your daily life?
Lingotot fits around my life as a very busy mom of 2 young boys. I can teach my classes and make enough to help support the family and still be available to make tea and to make all the clubs and sports practices that I have been missing out on. I can work school hours but don’t have to spend hours each evening preparing lessons and marking. It fits in with us perfectly.
What have been your challenges and highlights so far?
I began my Lingotot journey a week before lockdown in March 2020. My biggest challenges have definitely been around overcoming my fear of rejection from schools. I have never been in sales and marketing and find ringing schools and nurseries very scary. But I have began to overcome it because I have 100% confidence in what Lingotot offer as well as my own abilities as a teacher.
My biggest highlights have been teaching a Superheroes class to children online with all proceeds being donated to the NHS and being part of a national activity day where I taught a lesson which was streamed into 4 different children’s hospitals and to over 2000 families. I was really nervous – I think my voice quivered a bit when I was singing but the buzz afterwards was lovely. I can honestly say that these few months, I have had more highlights than challenges, despite being in lockdown.
What are your future goals?
My future goals are to secure contracts to teach in some of the primary schools in the area and to become that well known brand that schools and nurseries know of and look to for all things languages. I also want to expand my business to introduce other languages such as Mandarin and Arabic.
What advice would you give to other people looking for a franchise?
Do your research. There are a wide variety of franchises out there but some offer a lot more support than others. Think about what it is that you want from your business. For me, I wanted a reputable brand behind me and I wanted one with ethical business practices. Look at franchises who are members of the British Franchise Association first as you know you have a national organisation monitoring these companies behind you. And finally, be brave and take the leap! It took me 2 years to finally make the decision but now I have, I wish I had taken it sooner!
