Case Study - Jennifer Mellor
Before I took up the Jo Jingles franchise I worked part-time in a private nursery school - for approximately 10 years. Prior to having children I was trained as a secretary and was a Personal Assistant to a Chief Executive Officer when younger. Nursery work fitted in with my young family and I undertook training to act as a nursery supervisor and then ran the nursery in the owner's absence. I had played the piano from a very young age and so took over the music provision at 3 nurseries.
This experience has been invaluable in my Jo Jingles life.
I saw the advert for the Jo Jingles franchise just at a time in my life when I needed something more to do. My children were teenagers (not always less demanding!) and the wording of the advert ... "…are you musical, ... used to working with young children,. want your own part-time business ?" seemed to be aimed directly at me. At the time it took a lot of nerve to make the final decision to jump out of the cosy nursery school scene to being my own boss but it's a decision I have never regretted. The profile exactly fitted my own skills - I now realise this is so important because it increases confidence when dealing with parents.
I am thoroughly enjoying running my own business. The business procedures are not complicated but it is definitely hard work and not really a "part-time" occupation anymore. Despite the "holidays" a lot of holiday time is spent on administration and preparation. My secretarial background has helped with the organisation and I am lucky to have a 'whizzy' computer that I use for accounts etc. and a husband who has been able to guide me on using it (when I let him!). I have now learnt to copy my music onto a database and 'burn' my own CD's!
Everything I put into the business comes back in spades. I do invest quite a lot in visual aids and props as I don't like doing it on a shoestring. It is really satisfying that people enjoy what's on offer and seem to want to come back.
My nursery school business is also very successful. The main nursery I go into has expanded four-fold and I now have a class teacher to help me develop the classes there."
