Case Studies

What is your career background?

Ten years at Interbrew UK, a major blue chip company. My roles included sales and marketing, at one point I was managing a team of ten sales managers. I then took the role as Human Resource Training Manager specialising in leadership, customer care, personal development and people management.

Franchise territory

North London: Winchmore Hill N21, Southgate N14, Palmers Green N13

How many years have you owned a Monkey Music franchise?

I became a Monkey Music franchisee in 2007.

How did you first hear about Monkey Music and the franchise opportunities available?

My daughters attended Monkey Music classes.

How often do you work?

Full-time during the school term, part-time in holidays with own management on flexible hours to fit in around the family.

How does the job fit around your family life?

Flexible working hours, work values and ethics of ‘nurturing a lifetime of music’ mirror home values of raising a family, networking on my area installs a feeling of belonging to the community which includes my family.

What is the best thing about Monkey Music for you?

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
This is how I feel about Monkey Music: I love teaching, singing, performing, interacting with children and building relationships with adults. Combine this with working for yourself, being in direct control of your turnover and profits and flexible working hours around the family and I feel this job is a winning formula.

What aspects of your ongoing support and training do you value most?

Annual Support Meeting, Curricula Forum, knowledge that I can contact Head Office for support at any time, Facebook Monkey Troop to keep in touch with other franchisees and feel part of a team.

Are there any downsides to the job?

Self-motivation needed to execute the less interesting side of the business such as admin, accounting.

What are your Monkey Music highlights so far?

Recognition of my work by winning the Monkey Music Award for ‘Moving from good to great’, positive reviews from customer: e.g. 5 stars on Facebook with 30 reviews. Customers telling me that ‘Monkey Music is the highlight of their week.’ Dad’s approaching me outside of Monkey Music to tell me they know the words to the Monkey Music songs even though they haven’t been to a class as their child sings the songs at home. Seeing a child with Monkey in the supermarket or park highlighting how much Monkey Music means to the child. Being financially independent and having funds to contribute to my family outgoings and living a comfortable lifestyle.

What is your career background?

I did a music and Welsh degree followed by three years and various postgraduate qualifications from the Royal Northern College of Music (PPRNCM and PGRNCM). I was an actress in the Welsh equivalent of Casualty before turning my hand at more conventional career in administration – which then led to another degree in Personnel – achieved while I was working full-time for a multi-international engineering company. Further down the line, I decided that I really should try singing for a living – I felt that it would be something that I would regret if I didn’t and thoroughly enjoyed the next stage of my career, ten years of singing in West End musicals – Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music and Jerry Springer the Opera. When my children were approaching school age, I reassessed my options again as working six evenings a week wasn’t going to suit once the children were at school during the day. This is when I stumbled upon Monkey Music and I’m so pleased that I did! I feel that this franchisee role has embodied all the skills which I have learnt in the past and many more skills learnt on the way.

Franchise territory

Amersham, Beaconsfield and the Chalfonts

How many years have you owned a Monkey Music franchise?

The years since I opened the local franchise in 2008 have flown by. When I started Monkey Music, my children were in pre-school and getting ready for Primary school. In September they will be in secondary school! Where has all that time gone?

How did you first hear about Monkey Music and the franchise opportunities available?

I remember the moment well. I had been chatting about career to my husband the night before and we had discussed various options but with no obvious conclusions. At that time I was playing the part of Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium. I was heading towards the stage area in my nun’s habit when a fellow nun came down the stairs looking extremely excited. When I asked her why she saw grinning so much, she explained that she had just signed a franchise agreement with Monkey Music. She had been a Monkey Music teacher for four years and had decided that the time was right to buy her own area. It seemed like a sign! The following week, I observed classes in action in Chelsea and was extremely impressed by the standard of the curriculum. I had tried various classes with my children (twins) but had never returned for a second class. The oldest children that I saw that day were the same age as my own children and I was astounded by their musical knowledge (they were answering questions about the violin) and by the intensity of their concentration within a fun environment. There wasn’t a Monkey Music franchise in my area and I knew then that this was something that I could do myself.

How often do you work?

I work daily Monday to Friday and add in a couple of hours at the weekend. It’s hard work but very stimulating. I choose to teach many of the classes myself although I do also have two other teachers who teach for me. I also have an administrator and secretarial help.

How does the job fit around your family life?

It fits well around family life. I take the children to school and I am home when they come back (or when they were younger, I was able to collect from school). Other aspects of the daily workload can be fitted around their needs – but there is no getting away from the fact that is a full time commitment – in spite of that flexibility of working hours.
At holiday times, there is lots to do – in terms of teaching, management, marketing, financial and general administration – but this can again be fitted around outings, activities and family time. You just need to be organised and plan your diary and time off accordingly.

How many classes do you currently run?

23

What aspects of your ongoing support and training do you value most?

Monkey Music Head Office are very supportive. Originally, I had no experience of running a business – how to go about filling classes, how to make the Monkey Music name known locally, how to price my classes, how to structure my accounts, how to write a business plan – the list was endless! I simply knew that I could tell potential customers to come and try the class and that in my opinion that the curriculum was the best around. The advice needed and received in all areas of running my business was comprehensive, in person, on the telephone and in terms of the manual which is substantial but extremely clear. Head Office seem to be aware that each franchisee brings their own set of skills to the table and we are assisted as individuals with our own unique set of strengths and areas which we need their support. Initially, the support I needed was significant, but with time comes experience and the support requested becomes less frequent, but nevertheless was always there when needed. I followed every piece of advice which I was given and saw my numbers rise and rise. Furthermore, I felt that I could also share my achievements and delight when numbers grew – and that it was reciprocated. I remember sharing that there were 350 families coming to my weekly classes…. just as I remember sharing that I had reached 100 for the first time. In 2013 I was approached to join the Teacher Training team at Monkey Music and I have enjoyed this additional consultancy work. Each new teacher needs to attend a training and assessment day and ongoing teacher training is also available. I have very much enjoyed working with new and existing teachers, ensuring that the strength of the Monkey Music curriculum is supported by creative teaching and that our parents and carers become aware, through our classes, of the benefit and value of the classes for their little one in terms of musical, social and language development. We are serious about music. We are fun, progressive and educational. Once that message is clear through our classes, our classes become sought after and customer numbers will rise!

How many classes do you currently run?

In my area, we currently run 34 classes having added more venues and classes this term. I teach 20 of those classes myself.

What is the best thing about Monkey Music for you?

I believe in the benefit of the classes. I feel that I am doing something worthwhile. I am singing regularly. I am also home in the evenings and can share my time appropriately between work and family. I feel that I am rewarded financially for the work I do. I enjoy the thrill of seeing my franchise grow. I enjoy the feeling that I am part of a wider network and can learn from the experience of others. Locally, I have talented teachers and administrators who are talented at their work and terrific people too.

Are there any downsides to the job?

Not really. You get out of it what you put into it. It needs energy and commitment.

What are your Monkey Music highlights so far?

I won the Monkey Music Customer Care Award in 2014 and early on I won the New Franchisee Award. I always knew that I could sing but now I know that I am running a successful small business. Monkey Music is still growing in my area and there is no reason that it can’t continue to do so as long as I continue to give it time, energy and commitment.