GF Issue 54

midst of renovating our first house. I felt overwhelmed and had moments of doubt, questioning my ability to handle it all. But my mum was super supportive and encouraged me to go for it, seeing it as a chance to build a solid future for my family.” Now, a decade into her role as the head of Stagecoach Performing Arts Thanet – and three house renovations later – Louisa is reaping the rewards of her business while fulfilling her dream of inspiring the next generation. A REWARDING EXPERIENCE “What I love the most is the kids. It’s incredible to see how much they look forward to coming here every week,” says Louisa. “It’s not just about performing – it’s also about the social side. They genuinely enjoy being with each other. “For those kids who might struggle to fit in at school, Stagecoach is a place where they can be themselves – especially in today’s world. Some kids start off shy, but then they become confident and even perform on the big stage. Sometimes, when I sit and watch their classes, I see how much they’ve grown, and that’s when it really hits me. For me, that’s the best thing about being a Stagecoach franchisee.” The next stage It was a surprising life moment that causedWest-End singer Louisa Parry to open a Stagecoach. A decade later, she doesn’t regret it ouisa Parry entered the performing arts in school in the U.K., attending Tring Park followed by the London School of Musical Theatre, with some Stagecoach sessions sprinkled in between. It was a journey that led her to sing professionally in London’s West End, in cabaret, with big bands, and in pantomime. “I went to Stagecoach for a few terms when I was around nine years old,” says Louisa. “I had friends who were also students, and I used to watch their performances. I grasped the essence of what Stagecoach represented, and it resonated with me because I’ve been involved in performing since a young age.” A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE After concluding her role as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Louisa unexpectedly became pregnant, which caused her to evaluate the direction her career was taking. When the opportunity arose to invest in her own performing arts school, everything fell into place. “When I found out I was pregnant, I contemplated what path to take in my career,” confirms Louisa. “It was then that my uncle [a fellow Stagecoach franchisee] mentioned to my mum about an available Stagecoach franchise for sale nearby and suggested that I consider taking it over. “I was five months pregnant at the time, and we were in the L Franchise Overview Stagecoach Year established: 1992 Number of franchised outlets: 326 Location of units: Worldwide Minimum required capital: £28,000 (UK) Contact: franchiserecruitment@ stagecoach.co.uk stagecoachfranchise. com “I felt overwhelmed and had moments of doubt, questioning my ability to handle it all. But mymumwas super supportive and encouraged me to go for it, seeing it as a chance to build a solid future for my family.” Louisa Parry with students Stagecoach principals with former student and writer/actor Rob Madge (bottom right) BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT 14 GLOBAL FRANCHISE | ISSUE 8.2 STAGECOACH