How to make a franchise a healthy business

Why the founders of the UK’s largest childcare franchise believe that detailed, regular training is the key to a healthy franchise business

Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries is more than just a franchise to owners Mark and Rebecca Crosby. The dynamic husband and wife duo launched their first Monkey Puzzle nursery in 2002, with the franchise following three years later. Childcare has always been part of their history, with Mark’s family having run nurseries for the last 30 years.

Mark says: “Ever since my mother set up her first nursery in 1976, our family has understood the unique criteria required for looking after an extremely precious part of people’s lives: their children.”

Delivering consistency

But with the franchise seeing exponential growth, with more than 60 settings nationwide from Glasgow to Portsmouth, how does the team ensure consistency across its nurseries?

Since the beginning, the team at Monkey Puzzle made it their aim to work as closely as possible with parents, staff and Ofsted to deliver childcare of the highest quality and provide children with unlimited opportunities to learn, develop and grow within a safe, secure and caring environment.

For all staff - from managers to nursery practitioners - Monkey Puzzle places enormous emphasis on making sure all employees offer more than just the relevant qualifications. All are carefully selected for their caring nature, ensuring each childcare setting provides a warm, stimulating environment for the children and a harmonious working atmosphere for staff.

However, it’s Monkey Puzzle’s emphasis on training and development that differentiates it from the competition.

Rebecca says: “Looking after people’s children is a huge responsibility. Our franchisee process ensures we only work with passionate and committed staff. However, we want to give parents more than that.

“We want to give staff all the tools to do their jobs properly to the highest standard possible, which is why we put so much emphasis on our custom inhouse training scheme.
“In all our childcare settings, we focus on every aspect of children’s well-being, from safety and their education, to our nutritionist-designed meal plans. Our training allows our nurseries to deliver the highest quality childcare available.”

The bespoke training for franchisees includes first aid for different age groups, compliance in the early years, safeguarding, school readiness, positive behaviour management and quality teaching and learning.

Developing vital skills

On top of the practical day to day training, franchisees are offered a two-part development and leadership programme.

“As well as providing the best possible setting for the children in our care, it’s important that everyone is given the opportunity to develop vital skills and feel empowered in their job,” Mark says.

Monkey Puzzle’s development and leadership training establishes essential business skills, such as people management and performance, project and change management.

“Working in nurseries is both a rewarding and viable career, something we want to instil across the Monkey Puzzle family,” Rebecca says.

Franchisees can also expect end to end support in the areas essential to establishing their new business, from help with market research and locating a suitable site, to nursery design, marketing support and educational coordination.

Those dreaming of a challenging, but highly rewarding new career running a thriving business that can generate a high financial return, as well as offering excellent job satisfaction within a highly respected sector, should look no further than Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries.

At a glance

Established: 2005
Number of franchised outlets: 60
Location of outlets: nationwide
Investment range: £250,000-£300,000
Minimum capital required: variable
Contact: info@monkeypuzzledaynurseries.com. Or call 01442 878887 monkeypuzzledaynurseries.com