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THE DECISION TO FRANCHISE Franchising has been on the cards for a long time for Theatre School of Scotland, and over the years the business has been approached by numerous people who have been interested in investing. However, Reece has felt it’s not been the right time, until now. “Whatever franchisees we bring on in these early days, they’re going to need to be prepared to be my best friend at the other side of the phone for the first six months because there’s so much risk for us,” he says. “But I think there’s amazing candidates out there. I think I’d rather share that success with the rest of the UK than keep it bottled up in Scotland.” Beyond the niceties, there’s potentially a big financial opportunity here too, although financial information is yet to be released. Packages are expected to start from £25,000 and will be dependent on territory, with Reece hoping the big appeal will be the flexibility, the brand reputation, and the six established revenue streams. “Whether it’s your productions, whether it’s your agency, whether it’s selling outreaches into primary there’s much more out there. Don’t set your hopes on getting a job and getting two weeks annual leave in the summer.” It’s interesting how this regional focus could potentially cross over into the way Reece focuses on the brand as the business begins to franchise into different areas of the country. An obvious change is going to be the brand name – Theatre School of Scotland will change to Theatre School of England, of Ireland, or of Wales, depending on location. Beyond this, Reece says his focus has been shaped by his homeland. “I think in Scotland you need to be open to building a community and I think across the board, we are a community-led business.” This has created some unusual collaborations with local businesses. For example, Theatre School of Scotland partnered with Scottish car dealership, Arnold Clark, to bring free classes to the children of employees which were conducted in the show rooms. It was an unexpected action but Reece believes it led to around 200 new students, which is a demonstration of the ‘out the box’ thinking he’s looking for as he begins to partner with franchisees. and secondary schools, there are vast ways to make money in this business,” he says. Although being a staff member comes with the pre-requisite of a degree, franchisees will not necessarily need the same qualifications so long as they take on a managerial role. “My ideal franchisee needs to be someone that’s filled with energy and gets the mindset we’re in,” says Reece. This mindset comprises positivity, strong leadership, the ability to think outside the box, and ultimately someone who can understand the value of the brand. These traits are all characteristics that Reece feels have personally helped him to put himself out into the public space and essentially ignore unsubstantiated criticism. “I’m a massive believer in positivity, spirituality,” he says. “I think I read The Secret as soon as I could read, and that ethos has carried through into my adult years.” No doubt, this optimism will continue as Theatre School of Scotland opens its doors in England for the first time later this year – withWales and Ireland hopefully in tow. “I think even when I was a child, if I didn’t have a postcode within 45 minutes of the M25 I would have been ruled out of a job” INTERVI EW 52 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 19.3