Franchise support, all businesses offer it but to what extent? At Jigsaw, our Founder and Company Director Nicola Lander takes a hand-on approach to training and nurturing our new franchisees!
Nicola has lived and breathed this company and what makes it work, she will stand alongside you in the first year of your business to make sure you succeed! Learn more about becoming a Jigsaw Franchisee here.
What franchise support is offered to new Jigsaw franchisees?
Nicola will stand by your side in the first year
You will be assigned a Franchise Support Manager
Franchise Support Manager will offer tailored advice to suit your needs
Ongoing Coaching sessions from a qualified life coach
Professional business support from a knowledgeable team
Launch support
Always someone on the end of the phone
With over 29 years of experience, Jigsaw’s tried and tested marketing and administrative systems ease the day to day running of the business. Which gives franchisees a feeling of safety and security as they begin their journey into franchising with Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools!
What does Jigsaw ongoing franchise support include?
• Access to our evolving operations manual
• Ongoing school visits
• Zoom, telephone or in-person meetings
• Annual reviews
• Annual general meetings
We believe the key to a successful Jigsaw school is finding the right people. We understand you need time before you make any commitment so there is no hard sell and never any obligation to proceed once you come and meet with us. Our initial meetings are just a way for you to gather as much information as possible.
Becoming our next Jigsaw franchisee can bring financial and personal success in a fun and creative way. Our award-winning Franchise package could be just what you are looking for. Create the perfect work life balance, working part time hours for a potential full-time wage.
Our franchise package
Franchise Fee: £8995 plus VAT
Equipment and launch marketing campaign: £3750 plus VAT
Monthly royalty fee: 10%
Monthly marketing fee: 2%
Training
Full training is led by our founder Nicola Lander who set up the business over 25 years ago and personally ensures that each new Jigsaw school meets our high standards of customer care and brilliant, fun and engaging classes.
You will be training on every aspect of the business including but not limited to:
• Day to day running of our school
• Finding the perfect venue to hold our classes
• Day to day administration of your school
• Staff recruitment and management
• Marketing your school including full social media overview
• Policies including health and safety, GDPR and child protection
• Guidance on legal requirements and accounting for your business
• Operations manual and use of our IT systems
Our ongoing support includes access to the following
• Launch support from an experienced Jigsaw franchisee and our head office team
• Access to our very evolving operations manual.
• Ongoing site visits
• Email and telephone meetings
• Top up training on improvements to the business model
• Annual reviews
• Annual general meetings
All the administrative functions of the business are handled by our bespoke online system which make the less attractive side of running any business easy and quick so you can focus on delivering excellent classes and customer service.
The benefits of franchising
• Proven business model – over 25 years of experience
• Strong brand association
• Strong marketing support
• Professional business support by a dedicated head office team.
• Ongoing training and mentoring
• A ready-made business with quick and easy set up due to our experience
• Resale value
We believe the key to a successful Jigsaw school is finding the right people. We understand you need time before you make any commitment so there is no hard sell and never any obligation to proceed once you come and meet with us. Our initial meetings are just a way for you to gather as much information as possible.
JOIN A TEAM OF SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISEES!
Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
We look forward to discussing the opportunity and helping you to decide if our business is right for you.
Please contact us to learn more about our franchise package by emailing fr*******@ji*********.uk.
At the end of last year, Jigsaw Harrow’s group 3 students were lucky enough to go to the final night of the UK tour of The Play that Goes Wrong. They visited the beautiful Aylesbury Waterside Theatre to watch their former Jigsaw drama teacher, Tom Babbage, in action.
Our lovely drama teacher Tom, went on tour in July 2021 with The Play that Goes Wrong, a show that he has also previously starred in in the West End. Our group 3 students were really keen to go and watch him in it, and when I saw that the tour was finishing in Aylesbury in the Winter, I decided to organise a trip to go. Watching live theatre is something that we really missed during lockdown, and so we were all very excited.
We were not disappointed! Before the curtain even went up there were actors amongst the audience setting the scene and making us laugh. From then on, we were kept on our toes from start to finish! It is a hilarious play, full of non-stop action, comedy, physical theatre, and the most unbelievable events that made us all laugh out loud throughout. The cast were superb, and we were so proud of Tom who performed with so much energy that we were tired just from watching him!
Tom – flying through the air!
We all had such a fantastic evening, and after not being able to go to the theatre for such a long time it made me think about the many benefits you can gain from watching live theatre.
Our students learnt so much from watching the play – it was a masterclass in how to use your body and voice to show different characters, to show emotions, to make people laugh and ultimately tell a story. It was also fantastic escapism; it is a classic “whodunnit” story, and for two hours we were transported into a crazy world of trying to discover who killed Charles Haversham! We all forgot about our worries and just laughed.
The students weren’t thinking about an essay that needed handing in or a test they needed to revise for. It also brought us together as a group, which after such a long time in our separate homes, was really special. To see this lovely bunch of friends chatting on the train journey, sharing their experience of the show, and enjoying each other’s company was fantastic.
The Play that Goes Wrong is currently playing in the West End at the Duchess Theatre and is also set to go on tour again in April. The recommended age is 8+ and it would be a great treat for any young actor to go and see it.
Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools – A teacher’s perspective on the acting, dance and singing classes coming to Jigsaw Harpenden!
Hello mums and dads of Harpenden! My name is Kim and I have worked as a Jigsaw teacher at Katie’s other three Jigsaw schools (Jigsaw Watford, Jigsaw Bushey and Jigsaw Hendon) for several years teaching performing arts, dance and singing.
Harpenden is in for a treat with the opening of Jigsaw Harpenden on Sunday mornings in January 2025. Offering acting, singing and dance classes to children aged 3-18! This blog post is here to get you excited for all that is to come your way in the new year and to give you an insight of Jigsaw Performing Arts from a teacher’s perspective!
Teaching at Jigsaw is always full of joy and fun! We care so much about each individual student in our classes and always strive for them to reach their fullest potential through encouragement, nurturing and lots of positive energy. It is vital to us as teachers that we create a safe learning environment where the students feel a part of a team, and essentially a Jigsaw family as this will enable our students to express themselves and always feel as though Jigsaw is a safe, happy and wonderful place to belong. Jigsaw is not only a place to belong for the students, but also for the staff!
What do I like about teaching performing arts?
Performing arts classes for children aged 3 – 6, are always super high energy confidence building classes full of the biggest smiley faces! I love watching confidence blossom in these classes, seeing a child, who may have initially joined Jigsaw feeling quite shy to suddenly coming into class beaming with confidence and ready to dance, sing and act their little hearts out. These classes are absolutely brilliant for developing a child’s gross motor skills due to dance. Through learning technique and with repetition, and practise a child can improve their balance, co-ordination and also their rhythm and musicality. It is also a great way for children to develop their social and communication skills which will support them alongside their early years journey at school.
What do I like about teaching dance?
I love the creativity behind the choreography of a dance. I love creating a piece of art and inspiring the students to come up with their own ideas, giving them the opportunity to share their input. Dance teaches students discipline and shows them that working together as a team can create something quite visually amazing.
What do I like about teaching singing?
I feel that singing is a brilliant way to express yourself through music. There is always a story behind a song, and I feel that singing brings that story to life and can be expressed in many different ways. There are so many aspects to singing other than just memorising the lyrics to the song. Some things include, performance, dynamics, harmonies, vocal placement; all of which are super exciting to teach as it shows the children that singing, and music has so many layers.
What sets Jigsaw apart from other Theatre Schools?
Jigsaw’s ethos and focus on giving every student an equal opportunity is spectacular. We have mixed abilities at Jigsaw Performing Arts, and we work to get the best out of every child, giving everyone their own personal experience of performing arts and allowing the students to move and progress at a pace that feels comfortable for them, whilst still challenging them and pushing them towards their goals in acting, singing and dance.
Jigsaw is a wonderful place to teach, and all the students absolutely love it!
At the start of the month our Social Media Manager Aoife was given the fantastic opportunity to see Hamilton on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City!
Hamilton is an American Musical that is based on the biography of the American Revolutionary, statesmen and Founded Father of The United States, Alexander Hamilton. The Musical tells Hamilton’s story through dance and song however the main style of storytelling, which creates the shows ultimate uniqueness, is through quick-witted rap. Beloved by many, Hamilton received a record-setting 16 nominations in 13 categories, ultimately winning 11 awards at the Tony Awards, the second-most for a single production in Tony history.
Aoife at the Richard Rodgers Theatre before the show.
We caught up with Aoife to find out more about her Broadway experience.
How did you find the show?
“It was incredible. Funny, witty and emotional. I was immediately drawn to the powerful voices from the moment the curtains opened and effortlessly followed the story from then onwards”
What did you think of the use of Rap as a form of storytelling?
“I had never seen a Musical where the actors used rap to perform their lines, it was unbelievably impressive. The actors articulated every word perfectly while keeping with the flow of the song and this really kept me locked in throughout. At times, they would completely switch the rhythm of their performance to suit the tone of the conversation, making each piece feel alive and moving at the right pace.”
Do you have a favourite song from the show?
“This is a tough one! All of the songs are catchy and I have had the Hamilton Soundtrack on repeat for weeks but I would have to choose ‘Satisfied’ as my favourite song.”
Would you recommend the show?
“Definitely! It is worth the hunt to find tickets! There is no show quite like it. As well as the beautiful costumes and set design, the thought behind each lyric and dance move powerfully gave me an insight of the History behind Alexander Hamilton. I had goosebumps throughout and would love to see it again in the West End.”
The ‘must see’ Hamilton is still playing on Broadway and in the West End so be sure to check it out if you get the chance!
“For me, franchising with Jigsaw has been the most amazing journey. Like all journeys, its had it’s ups and downs with unexpected lockdowns and social to name one! However, the good times FAR outweigh the bad. I now have the most amazing and ever evolving team, three wonderful schools and hundreds of smiling children on a Saturday.
I wouldn’t say that running your own business is for everyone, but franchising with Jigsaw gives you a massive head start. Despite being the only Jigsaw in Wales, and the first franchise to open outside London’s surrounding counties, I have always felt supported.
Nikki and the head office team make you feel like your voice will be heard and considered. You’re never alone when times are tough.
Unlike most of the other franchisees, I had no experience of working with Jigsaw before buying my first territory. Despite this, I now have lots of friends in the network and have felt welcomed from the start. Jigsaw is now my work, passion and extended family.
As a parent myself, I know how difficult and impossible having children can feel. You are constantly busy, being pulled in multiple directions and end up feeling like you have accomplished nothing! I love the fact that Jigsaw gives parents a window of ‘me time’ on a Saturday. The other plus is that having loads of lovely children together being creative is much easier than looking after your own. 5 years in, I have Jigsaw kids that started on my very first day and are now flourishing in our main school for children aged 7 – 18. It’s an absolute joy watching them grow up, making shows and presentations very proud moments!” – Philippa
We talk with Michael, Jigsaw’s first franchisee, about his franchise success.
Franchise Success Case Study
How did you hear about Jigsaw Performing Arts?
I worked for Jigsaw as a drama teacher in 2006 when I was still at drama school. I think it was an advert in The Stage!
What attracted you to a Jigsaw Franchise?
The opportunity to run my own business was too good to pass up. I have all the positives of running my own business but with the support network and existing good name of Jigsaw.
When did you launch? How is it going?
We launched in January 2014 and things are going really well. The school is growing term on term and the students we have are brilliant!
What does a normal week look like?
Sunday is my main day as I manage the school and make sure all parents and students receive first class customer service and classes are run to a high standard. During the week I have the freedom to fit the admin around my life.
Did you have performing arts experience?
I trained as an actor and director so the creative side of Jigsaw was never a worry.
Have you run your own business before?
I have been running my own part-time business for the past five years. The beauty of the Jigsaw software system is that the office work that I need to do for my school can fit easily around my other office admin – so to be honest I’ve noticed a very small difference to the week work load! But am definitely seeing the long term benefits of having my own Jigsaw school!
How did you finance your franchise?
The opportunity to open a franchise coincided with us moving house so I was fortunate to be able to see that I could afford it – and in a couple of years time I’ll be able to afford a new bathroom on the house rather than straight away!
What is the best thing about running a Jigsaw Franchise?
The freedom to work my own hours in the week and the fantastic support I get from head office. I don’t feel like I’m on my own!
What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?
It’s hard to feel that you’ve ever done enough when it comes to marketing, building the school’s profile, etc. So until the students walk in to the school on the first day of term – it is a bit nail-biting!
What are the main benefits of being part of a franchise network?
Jigsaw has a very strong word of mouth following which has been highly beneficial to my franchise. Many customers were delighted to find a new local branch. The strength of the existing brand was worth every penny. I would never have been able to achieve this on my own.
If you want to open your very own Jigsaw Performing Arts School, or it has been a lifelong dream to offer engaging performing arts classes for children, read more about our franchise opportunities or email franchise@jigsaw-arts.co.uk for more information.
We couldn’t be more excited to offer franchise discovery meetings to prospect franchisees! You might come from a performing arts background. You might want to work with children. You might be looking for a flexible business that you can fit around family or other existing commitments.
Have you ever thought about running your own performing arts school?
Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools
Jigsaw has been bringing the joy of performing arts to new generations of children and teenagers for 25 years and now has over 30 schools across England and Wales.
While some children join Jigsaw to build a foundation for career in the performing arts, others do so to unlock hidden talents, overcome shyness or increase their confidence and social skills. Above all, students enjoy having fun through drama, singing and dance classes, while making lots of new friends.
Joining a franchise network means avoiding many of the pitfalls of starting a business from scratch. There is a proven business model and there are systems in place to make the difficult parts of running a business – such as administration, branding, and marketing – easier.
Jigsaw has been running since 1995, and new franchisees become the beneficiaries of all the experience accrued since then. The initial training and ongoing support can make all the difference compared to going at it alone!
Some of our latest blog posts have highlighted the experiences of our newest franchisees. Read more about Shaun, the new owner of Jigsaw Sevenoaks, and Megan, the new owner of Jigsaw Ilford and become inspired…
Jigsaw’s Franchise Discovery Day
The next Jigsaw Franchise Discovery Day is on Wednesday 28th October 2020. Come and meet us (or zoom us if you cannot get to London!) for a relaxed and informal chat about our franchise package, with our friendly and approachable franchise team.
Filmmaking at Jigsaw Brentwood has been so much fun! This term, our 7+ years students took on the role of filmmakers by devising, writing and shooting a short film with the help of their fantastic teachers.
Jigsaw Brentwood are experiencing their first technique term since opening last September and their 7–18-year-old students who attend on Sunday mornings are having a great time getting stuck into developing different skills and techniques in singing, dance and drama in preparation for their first show term this September.
We caught up with the 7+ years students to discuss their film project!
What have you been working on this term?
Filmmaking at Jigsaw Brentwood! We have been writing our own thriller short film with the help of our teachers Yas and Joe! We have been writing our script and working on developing our characters in class. We have also been looking at locations within the venue to carry out the filming.
What is the film about?
It’s about a group of friends who are telling a ghost story about a girl who goes missing… Though, the twist is that this becomes true, and one of the characters goes missing!
What are your plans for filming?
We are currently writing our script and in the next few weeks we will start shooting the film!
What have you enjoyed most?
Working as a team while filmmaking! At Jigsaw Brentwood we call ourselves ‘Team’ and it has really helped us work together on this project.
We cannot wait to see Jigsaw Brentwood‘s short film! Keep your eyes peeled on their social media to see the results @jigsawbrentwood!
To learn more about the singing, dance and drama performing arts classes for children aged 3-18 at Jigsaw Brentwood, click here!
As much as we love clever revivals of the classics and long-running blockbuster shows, there’s been a wave of great new musicals in the last two and a half decades. Here are our picks for our favourite new musicals since 1995 (sorry Les Mis)!
As much as we love clever revivals of the classics and long-running blockbuster shows, there’s been a wave of great new musicals in the last two and a half decades…
Our Favourite Musicals of the Last 25 Years…
8. Once
Based on the independent Irish 2007 film of the same name, Once the musical maintained its stripped-down feel. It’s a story about a guy and a girl – literally, “Guy” and “Girl” – and their friendship formed over busking and music. The cast pull double-duty, also playing their instruments.
It’s an utterly charming experience, even as it explores themes of loneliness and lost loves.
7 Dear Evan Hansen
Premiering in 2015, the full impact of this new musical is yet to be seen – it only made it to the UK in late 2019. But the combination of pop music and serious subject matter, reflecting the difficult experiences of high school and being a teenager, has seriously resonated with audiences, making it a worthy addition on this list.
A film adaptation is in the works…
6 Hairspray
With 1960s R&B-influenced songs, Hairspray tells the story of a high school student who dreams of appearing on a local dance TV show. However, behind the catchy songs (we still have “Good morning Baltimore!” stuck in our heads), colourful sets and the TV smiles of The Corny Collins Show are some serious themes about body image and racial discrimination.
It was turned into a fun film in 2007 that more than did the show justice.
5 Billy Elliot the Musical
Another musical based on a film, but when the result is this great, we can’t complain! Set amidst the miners’ strike, the eponymous Billy Elliot is a young boy with a passion for ballet, much to the consternation of his father.
Elton John wrote the music for the stage version, none other than Tom Holland (the future Spider-Man!) played Billy for a time on the West End, and the musical’s powerful message of acceptance is still relevant today.
4 Matilda the Musical
Dennis Kelly adapted and Tim Minchon wrote music and lyrics for Matilda, based on the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl. It’s a powerful and timeless story of a neglected child, her unappreciated intelligence, her hidden powers and friendship with her teacher.
It feels like a West End institution by now, so it’s hard to believe that this clever part-prequel spin on The Wizard of Oz only premiered in 2003. It follows the story of two friends and how one becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and the other Glinda the Good Witch.
The Wicked team have gone all-in on educational resources and even a writing competition, which promise to keep this musical alive in children’s imaginations for years to come. Plus, the stand-out song ‘Defying Gravity’ still gives us shivers!
2 Hamilton
The American history is maybe a little lost on us in the UK – but there’s no denying the sheer fun of being in “the room where it happens” for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s rap-musical. Hamilton is now a global phenomenon, and Miranda has since written music for Moana and appeared in Mary Poppins Returns.
Now there’s news that a filmed version – with the original Broadway cast no less – is coming to our screens from Disney!
1 The Lion King
Just under the cut-off (it premiered in 1997), Julie Taymor’s adaptation of the Disney film has become a classic in its own right.
The way the performers interpret animal movements through puppetry was a game-changer and it’s still breath-taking to see on stage. Of course, the songs retained from the film – music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice – aren’t half-bad either!
(And Jigsaw Agency‘s Theo played Young Simba for over three years!)
What are your favourite musicals of recent years? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Jigsaw Performing Arts, established 1995, is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page.
