From Romans to Roaming: Gayles Case Study
Gayle is launching her first clubs this month as the new franchisee for Reigate & Redhill. As bookings come in and we're making final preparations to welcome kids, we ask Gayle about her experience since coming to a Discovery Day back in February.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THE OUTDOORS PROJECT?
I’ve been a secondary school teacher and Head of Department for over 10 years, so I do have a lot of experience working with children. Working in education is really rewarding but has become increasingly restrictive and demanding, so this seems like the perfect way to continue doing what I love whilst embracing my out-of-school passions
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE OUTDOORS PROJECT?
The Outdoors Project is all the kind of things that I was already looking for. I knew that I loved being outside. I loved spending time in nature and I wanted to do more of that in my life. I was a secondary school teacher and I also knew that I loved working with children. I wanted to carry that on, but combine this with my passion for the outdoors. So it feels like a really nice transition.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND IT PREPARING FOR THE CLUBS?
All sorts of feelings! Exciting mostly but nerve-wracking too! There’s been a huge amount of support and everything you could imagine has already been thought through; the HQ team are always on hand to talk things through and there are heaps of resources and how-to guides for it all. Its a lot to get your head around but we’ve been breaking it down into phases and timelines and that has helped so much
WERE YOU LOOKING FOR A FRANCHISE WHEN YOU CAME ACROSS THE OUTDOORS PROJECT?
I was considering setting up my own business. A franchise hadn't really occurred to me before, but this ticked so many boxes that it seemed like a really good way forward. It was the kind of thing I wanted to do anyway, but with so much support and really exciting activities.
“I was considering setting up my own business. A franchise hadn't really occurred to me before, but this ticked so many boxes that it seemed like a really good way forward.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES?
I love all the messy ones! I’ve had a great time making slime, play-dough planets and yoshi-egg stress balls. I’m also a book nerd at heart so can’t wait for the character days like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Oh and the Dinosaur day. And playing Zombie Apocalypse. Pretty much everything then really.
WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE SUPPORT YOU HAVE RECEIVED WHEN LAUNCHING YOUR CLUBS THIS SUMMER?
It’s hard to say what the most important support is because I’ve just been so fully supported. The HQ team have been right there setting it all up with me. It has ranged from the day to day how to set up a childcare business that is very specific, to those big decision, such as the software systems, which I wouldn’t have known which ones to invest in on my own. I think the franchise offering is an amazing one.
"HQ team always on hand to talk things through..."
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