Stagecoach Performing Arts celebrates its most established franchisees with long-service awards

Each recipient of a long-service award received a bottle of champagne and the award itself

With over 300 franchisees worldwide, Stagecoach Performing Arts recently commemorated the longest-serving members of its global network. Stagecoach prides itself on having the best-in-class support team to help franchisees throughout their entire journey. The lengthy commitments of the celebrated franchisees, ranging from 10 to 30 years, demonstrate these efforts are worthwhile. With Stagecoach about to recognise its 35th anniversary next year, there’s no better time to celebrate both the dedication of its franchisees to improving the lives of children and the brand’s accomplishment of providing a supportive and successful franchise structure.

“At Stagecoach we aspire to make each franchisee feel valued,” says Andy Knights, CEO of Stagecoach Performing Arts. “The Stagecoach Way is instrumental in helping us to do this. We aim to make all students, parents and franchisees feel included and encouraged, and ensure there is a focus on celebrating achievements, such as these milestones! The Stagecoach Way enforces a celebratory environment which creates a culture that is reflective and positive, placing importance on collective growth. We are immensely proud of each franchisee who has reached a milestone this year for their extraordinary contribution to Stagecoach and their surrounding communities.”

Held in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the world’s most celebrated playwright, Stagecoach Performing Arts came together in June with hundreds of its franchisees to celebrate their collective achievements during its annual conference. Each recipient of a long-service award received a bottle of champagne and the award itself, plus an engraved decanter for 25-year-standing franchisees like Jenny Pando from Solihull.

“It was marvellous to be recognised at the conference,” says Jenny. “My friends were cheering me on, and my daughter Elena came with me because she is a manager at my school. She was in my tummy when I started as a Stagecoach franchisee, and now she’s a part of the business!”

Jenny has seen a positive impact on her students since starting at Stagecoach and believes the best thing about being a franchisee is the relationships you make along the way. “For me, the relationship with the teachers is the best part as we are constantly encouraging each other,” says Jenny. “I’ve just had a teacher who has celebrated 18 years with me, and I have remained great friends with the ones who have left to explore other career avenues. This supportive environment is why we make such a difference to the students’ lives and is why now I have former students bringing their own children to Stagecoach.”