why age is just a number in our Bloom network
With 30% of UK adults considering launching their own business in 2023 1 , the appeal to become your own boss has never been greater. Of these aspiring adults, 48% were between the ages of 18 and 24, equating to more than two million budding entrepreneurs 1 . But it is not just young people who are looking to start their own establishment – 60% of those aged between 45 and 54 years old claimed they would launch their own business alongside existing caring responsibilities 1 .
Despite such high innovation levels in the UK, 43% of aspiring entrepreneurs across all ages do not believe they will set up their businesses 2 , signifying that the fear of failure is still high amongst budding businesspeople – this is where franchising can provide the perfect solution.
“Running a franchise can be less risky than starting a business from scratch because a franchise comes with a proven business model, established brand recognition, and ongoing support from the franchisor. With greater chance of business success, people of all ages are achieving their entrepreneurial dreams through franchising,” says Victoria Jennings, our founder here at Bloom Baby Classes. “Investing in a franchise is not only more affordable in the long run, but it offers you unique opportunities which aren’t dependent on your experience level.”
Below, Victoria shares how you can build your own Bloom business empire through franchising – and why age really is just a number.
Be ambitious
As a franchisee, the ability to recognise – and seize – opportunities within your business is an
important quality to have. As a young franchisee, make sure you do your homework – research and understand your local demographic and be savvy with your business plans to help your business excel and achieve long-term success. In our network, Sophie Nixon, aged 29, took the opportunity to launch the first Bloom Toddler Classes, despite only being with us as a teacher for two years. “I first joined as a teacher at the beginning of 2021, working for Jen who runs the Northumberland Bloom Baby classes. Following my franchisee training last Autumn I have become one of the first people to launch the new toddler-focused franchise. Working with Jen was an absolute joy, and with my toddler classes running in the same area, I feel very lucky to continue the development of the same little ones that I taught as babies.”
There are no age limits in franchising – starting a franchise when you are older means you bring a wealth of experience. Just remember, it is important to be open to learning new concepts or ways of working with a focus on introducing fresh concepts to your approach to make your Bloom territory stand out from the rest.
Be empowered
It sounds simple, but a major factor that deters people from launching their own business is feeling under qualified. This affects women more than men, with 48% of women who want to set up a business believing they will not, due to their perceived lack of relevant skills 2 – a concern young people can also be all too familiar with. Unlike launching a business on your own, investing in a franchise like Bloom gives you the opportunity to utilise any skills you may have from previous lines of work. Everyone has transferrable skills, no matter how much experience you may have. Georgia Hellend, despite just turning 26, uses the social skills and ability to adapt that she developed as a cabin crew member to help her as a teacher with us. “You wear so many hats when you’re cabin crew,” says Georgia. “You have to be a counsellor, a babysitter, a firefighter – everything! The people skills I learnt whilst being a cabin crew member have been really useful and have made adapting to different situations and being mindful of how I approach certain scenarios much easier.”
Be proactive
Although franchising offers you a certain level of security, it is crucial to recognise there will still be challenges along the way. For instance, you may need to be proactive when things are not going the way you had planned. Shaking up your business structure to suit you or your business’ needs can seem daunting, but it is worth it for the long-term success of your territory.
In our network, Hannah Mae-Pinder and her mum, Mikki, who run our North Leeds and Wetherby Bloom sessions, adapted their responsibilities to align with their needs. Being a teacher is a physical role and reworking their franchise model means they are both comfortable in their positions. “My mum has MS and whilst 45-minute sessions are okay, many classes back-to-back can be tricky. This is why we adapted our business structure – I run most of the classes and she works behind the scenes on areas such as accounting. We’ve now formulated a plan that works for the both of us, helping our territory thrive even more.”
Having a range of people of differing ages in a team can bring a variety of perspectives, skills and expertise and can lead to more innovative and effective solutions, increased collaboration, enhanced learning and development opportunities and improved communication. And, at Bloom, we will encourage and support you– helping you to make your business the best it can be.
If you’re interested in learning more about the classes and franchise opportunities that Bloom Baby Classes offer, contact us at enquiries@bloombabyclasses.com or call us on 0800 4647960.
1 Enterprise Nation, 2023, An enterprising nation! A third of UK adults are thinking about starting a business in 2023.
2 SME Loans, 2020, 64% of Britain’s Workforce Wants To Set Up Their Own Business.