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Why invest in education?

Sarah Stowe

Parents across all demographics want the best for their children, and that includes education. For many, that may mean employing tutors to help with everything from a preschool head start to university admission exams.

The segment is growing fast. According to IbisWorld, annual revenue generated by tutoring has increased over the past five years to $1.15 billion. The research company also predicts that an increasingly competitive school environment will continue to drive growth.

“More parents are choosing to invest in what’s known as the ‘shadow education system’ to complement their school learning,” says SAM, or Seriously Addictive Mathematics, director Sonja Oosthuizen of Western Australia.

For franchisees seeking opportunities in tutoring, SAM offers a range of skills areas and age groups. For example, SAM caters for students from four to 13 years old, while the Kumon tutoring programs for English and maths attract everyone from preschoolers to high-school students, and another franchise business, Begin Bright, has centres that provide school-readiness programs and primary tutoring.

“We find that parents and caregivers are valuing and recognising the importance of supporting early learning,” says Begin Bright MD Paula Bedford.

Franchisees do not necessarily need a background in education to join this vibrant sector.

“It’s true that former teachers and educators may be particularly suited to running a SAM franchise, but such experience is not essential,” says Oosthuizen. “All our franchisees, and the trainers they employ, undergo extensive training to ensure the program is delivered at the same high quality to all our students. They all need to be passionate about education and enriching the lives of children, and must have excellent communication skills. Our franchisees should also have business acumen and a drive to succeed.”

Begin Bright draws franchisees from business and investing backgrounds as well as education.

“Our franchisees are talented, driven and dedicated professionals with a passion for contributing to the growth of our youngest learners,” says Bedford. “We have all the systems in place that will enable them to hire a team of qualified teachers while they focus on building their business.

Read full story in Jan/Feb edition of Inside Franchise Business magazine out soon.