Franchise Focus
E-competent kids
ComputerXplorers is all about encouraging children to have fun with technology, not just computers but also digital art, fi lm-making and much more
INVESTMENT LEVEL: £29,500 PLUS VAT
based franchise that delivers classes to help children get to grips with the latest technology. The franchise is part of the world’s largest education franchise network, providing quality technology education for children.
The company offers weekly classes to children from the ages of 3 to 13 at a range of locations, including nursery schools, playgroups, schools, holiday clubs, after-school clubs and other community venues.
“We planned for one of us to work on the business at fi rst, but it’s taken off so quickly that we’ve both been full-time”
The specialist ICT classes provide the instructor, the lesson plans and the software. For younger children, the classes help build academic readiness skills in language, literacy, maths, science, art and music, while introducing them to problem-solving and computer operations. Older students use the computer to improve learning, productivity and performance, while developing a range of technology skills.
T
oday computers are placed at the heart of every child’s education and development. Having fun with technology and computers from an early age encourages children to
be e-confi dent and e-competent, which will give them a great head start in life. This is the premise that underpins the ComputerXplorers programme, a home-
John McGill, who took on ComputerXplorers for South West Scotland in 2009, says: “I was impressed by the ComputerXplorers concept and wish that something as innovative and fun had been around when I was at school. “I already had a passion for technology and having two kids of my own it has allowed me to kick-start their knowledge of ICT and prepare them for the future. “Technology is so central to everything we do, yet many schools are under-
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Businessfranchise.com | December/January 2012
resourced in this area due to the shortage of IT teachers and limited budgets. My ComputerXplorers franchise presents a chance for Scottish children to have access to unique ICT programs and give them a head start in life and for me this is not just a need – it’s a necessity.” Nicola Cosgrave began life as a franchise owner for ComputerXplorers in Dublin South in January 2009 and chose the franchise route to reduce risks associated with a new start-up. She says: “When I was researching franchise opportunities, I came across ComputerXplorers. I found the class plans, the continuous development of programmes and software, along with the professional development and support of the franchisor, to be a great package.” Another franchisee, Stephen Hall, from Omagh, Northern Ireland, moved to England in
1994.The 35-year-old has been running ComputerXplorers Birmingham East with his partner, Fiona McGuigan since January 2011. Stephen says: “I picked up a franchise magazine at Birmingham airport when Fiona and I were fl ying back to Belfast and noticed ComputerXplorers. I’m a self-confessed computer geek and love messing around with computers and new bits of software, so it’s right up my street. “The idea of combining my interest in ICT with having fun with kids really appealed to me. We did a bit more research and met with the franchisor, Nigel Toplis. We also went to see a class in action and it was this that really sealed the deal. I wasn’t prepared for how brilliant the classes were and to see the children being so enthusiastic and absorbed really sold it to me.
“We planned for one of us to work on the business at fi rst, but it’s taken off so quickly that we’ve both been full-time from the start. We’re way ahead of our business target and have maintained our standard of living, which is pretty amazing for our fi rst year in business.”
Nigel Toplis, managing director of ComputerXplorers, says: “Our goal is to help children discover their own technology and computer skills through exploration. Above all though ComputerXplorers is about education with a small e and fun with a capital F.”
COMPUTERXPLORERS
WEBSITE:
www.computerxplorers.co.uk EMAIL:
jmatthews@computerxplorers.co.uk PHONE: 01530 513 308 CLASSIFICATION: Children’s computer tuition
Investment: £20k-£50k
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