First Class Learning franchisee, Emma Orton, has worked in education for almost twenty years now.  After starting out upon leaving school as an administrator for a training organisation, she gained experience and qualifications through advice and guidance roles to teaching positions mainly within further education and then completed her teacher training and Masters in Education.

However, when Emma was expecting her first child she knew she had to make big changes to work around family life, but was determined not to give up on teaching.

She explains: “I was looking for an opportunity which enabled me to continue with my full-time teaching job initially, but something that would also allow me to work more flexibly around a family in the future. I explored lots of educational business opportunities, but when I came across First Class Learning it immediately stood out. I loved the idea of a franchise, as it gives you the chance to start your own business, but with the help and support of a successful organisation behind you.

“I chose First Class Learning as it was well structured, offered plentiful support and guidance to get started but at the same time allowed me to run the business my way. I visualised that running an FCL centre would allow me to continue working in the education sector, whilst working from home and setting my own hours. I could also see that as my centre became more established there was lots of opportunities to grow my business and help more children.

“I opened my first centre in Darlington in July 2011, and by March 2013 I had also taken over developing centres in Sunderland and South Shields. In September 2017 I opened my fourth centre in Redcar, and now run 7 classes every week across 4 areas. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

Emma adds: “Being an FCL manager has provided me with the flexibility I was looking for, as I have been able to run my centres around a family. I get the best of both worlds, still busy working in education and helping children learn and grow, but still having lots of time to be a mum. I took voluntary redundancy from my full-time teaching position in July 2012 just before having my first child and I have never looked back. I knew I wouldn’t want to go back to a full time teaching job after having a baby and being an FCL manager has allowed me to continue working, which was important to me, but spend much more time at home whilst my children have been young.”

First Class Learning is a highly successful education franchise specialising in English and maths. It is currently the UK’s fastest growing tuition business with 300 franchisee run centres nationwide. First Class Learning is a tuition business, but what it is really selling is success; to students, parents and franchisees. Its success is built on investment in people, with the franchise built on the mantra that no child deserves to be left behind.

First Class Learning has low start-up costs, with investment levels varying depending on where a centre is situated. Initial costs cover training, website set-up and access to the Centre Managers Portal, marketing and business support, an Accelerator Launch Package worth c.£2,000 and exclusive rights to operate an FCL Centre and use the FCL brand in your territory. Furthermore, FCL offers an 100% franchise fee discount in month one, then a 50% discount for a further three months.