Reflecting on 35 years of success

Reflecting on 35 years of success

Stagecoach Performing Arts offers a safe space for children to learn to sing, dance and act, and, most importantly, build their confidence. Now, 35 years since Stagecoach began, CEO Andy Knights has been reflecting on its journey and celebrating the achievements of its franchisees and students. It is this continually-growing Stagecoach community that is a testament to the brand’s enduring success and ever-evolving business model.

Since its inception in Surrey in the UK, Stagecoach has grown into a global franchise network of more than 300 franchisees who operate over 3,000 schools in eight countries. Through a tried, tested and trusted business model, franchisees have enjoyed the benefits of running a profitable business while delivering an exciting and varied framework. Franchisees act as the Principals of their schools and have the rewarding experience of watching their students grow in confidence and build key life skills through the power of the performing arts. It is this combined passion for children’s development across our network that has seen more than one million students reach their full potential since the doors opened on the first Stagecoach school back in 1988.

Whilst the standard Stagecoach offering involves weekly classes in three core performing arts disciplines, as the business has grown, so has the opportunities afforded to our students – both in and out of the classroom. This has involved us building key partnerships and taking part in initiatives that both our students and our franchisees will remember for their whole lives.

One of our core and longest-standing collaborations is with Disney Performing Arts at Disneyland® Paris. Since 2013, students from across the globe have had the chance to perform, including a sung performance in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. This opportunity is a Stagecoach exclusive and brings together not just a treasured relationship between our brands but also allows our Principals to work with our in-house events team to give students an experience that, for many, becomes the highlight of their year.

As part of our well-established collaboration with Disney Performing Arts, our unique ‘Behind the Magic’ programme has been meticulously crafted to give each student an exciting and educationally valuable glimpse into Disney’s world of professional entertainment. Students attend multiple work sessions with Disney professionals encompassing singing, dancing and acting, audition skills and stage performance. All of which develop a students’ confidence in their ability to work, learn and achieve their full potential.

Another key moment in this relationship, and a big moment in Stagecoach history, was when we teamed up with Disney Theatricals to break a world record for the largest simultaneous performance of one show across multiple locations in 2018. We held 73 performances of Beauty and the Beast across three countries to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.

Our events team also run multiple captivating showcases for our schools both in the UK and abroad each year. In the UK alone, we’ve organised nearly 200 showcase events, 100 of have taken place in London with students performing on West End stages such as Shaftesbury and His Majesty’s theatres. Students from all corners of the country travel miles to showcase their passion and talent and these experiences not only serve as many of our students’ first taste of the West End but also exemplify our unwavering commitment to presenting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Students perform renditions of world-famous songs from various musicals, films and television as part of these special shows. One of our most recent productions showcased performances from Stranger Things, The Sound of Music and 9 to 5, to mention a few.

Whilst students have the chance to show their skills in class and at events, our franchisees are also celebrated at our annual conferences – the most recent of which was held in Leicester this past June. Some of our longest-serving franchisees have been with us for decades and we are proud to champion such a varied and valued network of franchisees.

Our franchisees, teachers and students have been the face of the business for 35 years, but the business has also evolved behind the scenes through joining the Trafalgar Entertainment Group (TEG) in 2018. TEG seeks to build a fully integrated and well-resourced live entertainment platform operating across property, rights, production, content distribution, live-streaming and venue management. Also in 2018, Stagecoach went through a rebrand which introduced our Creative Courage for Life business ethos, which seamlessly unified our brand internationally and brought our core values to life for our franchisees, students and parents.

Ultimately, Stagecoach’s enduring success is thanks to our franchisees, who reflect our commitment to providing high-quality performing arts education and empowering children to develop their skills and confidence. Not just focused on the wellbeing of our students, our franchise model provides franchisees across the globe a business that delivers effective work-life balance and earning potential.

Our 35th anniversary is a significant milestone, a testament to our entire international network’s dedication and hard work. By focusing on the development of its students and franchisees, Stagecoach has built a network of successful performing arts schools that continue to significantly impact the lives of young people and franchisees internationally.

To find out more about international franchise opportunities with Stagecoach Performing Arts, visit https://stagecoachfranchise.com/

Rugged Hank

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

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