Working with children
Taking the plunge... E
From customer to multi-unit franchise owner – how Ellie Cawdell took to franchising like a duck to water and never looked back!
llie says: My career has been varied and has often involved elements of travelling, from studying forensics at university with a view to joining
the police force, to working for the council and then relocating to Newcastle for a role as a project manager with a local children’s charity, there was one thing I always craved and that was more flexibility and to feel that I was truly benefitting from all the hard work I constantly put in to my role. I no longer wanted to feel like ‘just a number’. Having discovered Puddle Ducks, the baby and
children swim school, whilst on maternity leave with my daughter Alice, I instantly fell in love with their approach to teaching this vital life skill, it just felt like the most fun you can have with your child! Then when I had my boys, Oliver and Arlo, we didn’t hesitate in signing them both up for lessons with Puddle Ducks, Arlo even started when he was nine days old! We just knew he was in safe hands. Living in Newcastle at the time, due to my role with a
children’s charity, I got to know the local Puddle Ducks franchisee, Carolyn Sharpe and, intrigued, I carried out some more research into running my own franchise. I was excited about turning something I was passionate about into my career and being able to grow a business with a reputable brand. As fate would have it a franchise in York was available, so we decided to move and start running our very own Puddle Ducks classes! It was really exciting to be able to bring Puddle Ducks
to York, Hull and the surrounding areas and we made sure we integrated into our local community as much as possible by taking part in activities such as charity fundraising. Ten years on, I have just
invested in a new territory, Puddle Ducks Cambridge. The time was right to
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really move the business on and this offered a low-risk opportunity I couldn’t miss! The expansion allows me to provide more classes in more pools as I now have 700 customers and have built the team to 17 fabulous people! Looking back, I am incredibly proud of how far I’ve
come. Recently making it to the finals of the EWiF awards as ‘Woman Franchisee of the Year’, being crowned Puddle Ducks ‘Franchisee of the Year’ as well as making it to the finals of the 2023 BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards! My team are amazing; their loyalty and hard work has
led to our success. To anyone considering a franchise I would say: do your research, find a franchise brand that aligns with your passion and just go for it! Puddle Ducks has given me everything I wanted from a career and the opportunity to build a big business without limits!
puddleducks.com/franchising
I now have 700 customers and have built the team to 17 fabulous people!”
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