Teach Children to Code through Play

This month, we talk to Gemma Murray, founder and director of TechyTots.

What was the inspiration behind your decision to start TechyTots?

I started TechyTots in 2016 when my two little girls were just three and five. I wanted a job which allowed a flexible work life balance. I had been talking to family members who work in the Tech industry and started researching into coding activities I could take my own children too. I found that there were no coding classes in the early years. This was when the idea for TechyTots came into my head. I had worked with children and families for over ten years and I knew this was something I could do. I loved the idea of teaching coding skills in a fun, engaging hands on way which didn’t involve too much screen time but instead used fun robots and interactive learning. Bringing coding skills down to the early years because if coding is the literacy of the 21^st century as it has been recently called then we need to begin to teach these skills in the early years. I knew there was a huge gap in the market and so I set up TechyTots to address it.

What does the TechyTots business look like today?

We have experienced incredible growth since I started TechyTots back in 2016, and it has been so much fun! I can safely say I absolutely love my job! I began delivering community-based sessions and quickly schools started asking if I could go in and run classes and clubs. I then developed our School Programs and Creative Coding Days. The demand from schools continued to grow which led to the natural progression of franchising. We are now a national franchise and have been nominated for ‘Best New Business’ in multiple awards including the ‘What’s on 4 little ones’ Awards, Working Mummies Awards and most recently the Forward Ladies Awards and we are currently finalists for the WIN Awards in both ‘Best New Business’ and ‘Women in STEM’ categories.

I really believe that this is an amazing opportunity for anyone who would love to run their own profitable business whether its around family life or working full time

What makes TechyTots business so successful?

TechyTots’ big success is our schools and nursery programs. We are the only company offering these types of hands on coding sessions, so it is a unique opportunity to be part of something original. We already have franchises up and running and are looking to expand to other areas in the UK. TechyTots community sessions are a fun learning environment for the whole family and we often have families come together with siblings – it really is fun for everyone no matter how old or young!

Why join the TechyTots family as a franchisee?

TechyTots continues to go from strength to strength – it really is a business that works! We are looking forward to growing in new areas and within more educational settings. Technology is only going to change and evolve and now is the time to prepare our little ones for the world they will grow up in.

The TechyTots business model provides franchisees with all of the support and tools needed to run a thriving children’s educational business.

What sort of person are you looking for?

Surprisingly, you don’t need to be a qualified teacher to be a TechyTots franchisee. We offer full training and help to support all of our franchisees every step of the way, from lesson plans and resources to the day to day running of the business. TechyTots is looking for people who have and enthusiasm for technology and who have a passion for working with children,  hardworking,  with a positive can-do attitude. 

Finally, what three tips would you give for any mum (or dad) thinking of starting their own business?

1. Believe in yourself! You can do anything you want if you are willing to work hard.
2. Love what you do, if you enjoy your work and business it never feels like ‘a job’ as it is something you are passionate about and willing to work for.
3. Realise that you cant do it all. You cant do everything by yourself you need people around you to help and support you. I am very grateful to everyone who had helped me with TechyTots and I thoroughly enjoy passing on my knowledge to everyone in my team.

Interested in becoming a TechyTots franchisee?

If you’d like to find out more about joining the TechyTots family as a franchisee, why not give us a call on 07500208760, or drop us an email at gemma.murray@techytots.co.uk  www.techytots.co.uk/franchise