Giving it a go

Language Solutions specialises in teaching children

After five months of watching Working Lunch during her maternity leave, Mandy Collins gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and produced her own bouncing business.

The programme's tips and case studies of small companies proved an inspiration as she sat at home in Cheltenham waiting for the arrival of her first child.

Now she's the mother of a fast-growing three year old, Lucy, and an equally fast growing business, Language Solutions.

And she didn't have far to look for the idea.

Idea

Mandy had lived in France for six years and had travelled all over the world, working first as a foreign language teacher and then marketing and selling language courses.

Before becoming pregnant she had worked for a language school in Cheltenham.

Mandy: Inspired by Working Lunch

"The germ of the idea was there. I became aware that there was a demand from more and more parents for children to be taught and we couldn't meet that demand.

"While I was at home during my pregnancy, I thought about setting up on my own. I had always wanted to run my own business and the idea began to take shape.

"I have to admit I got a lot of inspiration from watching Working Lunch. It was one of the things that convinced me to have a go."

Never looked back

That was three and a half years ago and since then, Mandy has never looked back.

The company aims to make learning languages fun.

Children are taught in a relaxed atmosphere, usually in their own nurseries, playing games and singing songs in French or Spanish.

The company now has 420 students registered at nurseries and centres in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

The students are mainly children from two and a half years old to the age of 11. But she is also finding that many parents are taking up languages too.

"I don't know whether it's because they want to improve their language skills, or because they're embarrassed by how well their children are doing!" says Mandy.

They also get the same relaxed atmosphere.

Growth

Setting up in business has been rewarding, but hard work.

Turnover has grown very slowly.

In the first year the company made a loss, by the second year it had grown to £8,000 and last year it reached £25,000.

Mandy hopes to develop her own games

But with seven teachers now working, as well as Mandy herself, the company could be on the verge of rapid growth.

"I wish it was more rewarding financially, but at the moment I'm really still digging the foundations of the business.

"But personally it's very rewarding. It's something I've always wanted to do and now my dream has come true."

Expansion

Like any true entrepreneur, Mandy has plans to develop the brand.

She is looking to extend the company's translation service. She's also working on producing some of the games and songs used in the classes as a package which can be sold in supermarkets and High Street stores.

"I've got loads of ideas, it's just finding the time to chase them up," she said.

And not surprisingly that busy schedule means she has no plans for any more babies at the moment, but who knows what another spell of watching Working Lunch could do for her business!