Jane James, founder of the children’s performing arts franchise Little Voices, recently shared her insights on franchising with undergraduate students at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).
Invited as a guest lecturer on the university’s Franchising module – one of only two of its kind in the UK – Jane offered students a firsthand account of her journey in building a successful franchise from the ground up.
The session, hosted by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, provided students with a practical perspective on the franchise business model, complementing their academic learning. Jane took over the guest lecturer role previously held by Nigel Toplis, former Chairman of the British Franchise Association (BFA).
“There’s still so much to do in terms of public understanding of franchising,” said Jane. “I was thrilled to share my story with these bright young students and loved the opportunity to talk about a sector that often flies under the radar – and to show that businesses like Little Voices are part of a much broader and growing ecosystem.”
The latest BFA National Franchise Survey highlights franchising’s growing impact, revealing the sector contributes £19.1 billion to the UK economy and supports thousands of jobs every year.
“What really struck me,” Jane continued, “was how surprised the students were by the variety of industries franchising touches – and especially the opportunities it presents for women. I hope my experience showed them that franchising can be a powerful route to business ownership, regardless of background.”
Professor Lola Dada, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at LUMS who invited Jane to speak, praised her contribution: “”Jane delivered an exceptional guest speaker lecture; it was a pleasure to observe her innovative approach to enlightening students on how franchising can be used successfully as a strategy for business creation, ownership and growth.”
For more information about Little Voices or future guest lectures, please contact Little Voices Head Office at info@littlevoices.org.uk.