Franchisor Jane James, the founder & CEO of the popular performing arts school ‘Little Voices’, has been announced as a finalist for the Lifetime Achievement Award in this year’s national Club Hub awards.
Jane was nominated in recognition of the significant impact she’s had on thousands of children’s lives since she first launched Little Voices back in 2007.
She’s grown her business over the past 16 years, and today there are 27 Little Voices franchises, and more than 150 tutors, teaching thousands of children and young people across the UK every week.
Jane explains: “When I created Little Voices, my dream was to work with young people to enhance both their vocal skills and life skills within a unique framework. Crucially, our classes help those children who are shy, have lost their confidence, or need a bit of a motivational boost, just as much as those who love performing. And the result is that Little Voices has now helped a generation develop into well-rounded individuals with the confidence to be whatever they want to be.”
When she’s not working in her own business, or working as a voluntary board member of the Children’s Activities Association to raise standards in what is essentially an unregulated industry, Jane was part of a Department of Education steering group trying to influence government policy and shape children’s activities moving forwards in light of the impact of the pandemic on education.
“The children’s activities sector has been close to my heart for so many years now,” she continues, “and as providers, I feel we have a collective duty of care to raise standards in the industry. For me, it’s not just about what we do at Little Voices. It’s about giving back, and the greater good of our wider industry.”
Jane now co-hosts a podcast with her own 15 year old daughter, Liv, called ‘The School Run’ that is about empowering and inspiring young people in their futures. So she really is trying to make a difference on children’s lives, she knows that school is just a small chapter and children need so much more than the education system can provide them with.
The Club Hub Awards are the only national awards for activity providers that are independently judged by a panel of experts, and the winners will be announced on 13th May.
Tessa Robinson, Founder and Director of Club Hub UK, says: “Huge congratulations to all our 2023 finalists, I can’t wait to celebrate all your achievements at the Club Hub Event in May. The children’s activities industry is so important to so many and it is great to showcase the best of the best to the whole of the UK”.