In this episode of the Disruptive Franchise podcast, Mark from Active Sports Group shares his journey of building a successful children's activity business over the past 20 years. He discusses the importance of support networks, collaboration within the industry, and the need for diversification. Mark emphasizes the significance of empowering franchisees, the realities of running a franchise, and the critical role of time management and commitment. He also highlights the impact of sports on mental health and the importance of encouraging young people to explore franchising as a viable career path.

Key Takeaways:

• Active Sports Group has been on a journey for 20 years.
• Support networks are crucial for business success.
• Collaboration among children's activity providers is increasing.
• Diversification of services can lead to growth.
• Empowering franchisees is key to success.
• Franchising requires hard work and commitment.
• Time management is essential for franchise owners.
• Adapting to change is necessary for survival.
• Transparency within the franchise network fosters trust.
• Encouraging young people to consider franchising is important.

Contact Active Sports Group:

• Website: https://www.active-sport.co.uk/

Keywords: Active Sports Group, children's activities, franchising, support networks, collaboration, diversification, mental health, entrepreneurship, sports impact, community engagement.

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A Thank You To Our Sponsors:

Our headline sponsor, Bookwhen makes event booking beautifully simple.

Bookwhen is a powerful, intuitive booking system that helps businesses grow by taking the hassle out of scheduling. From classes and appointments to workshops and franchise-run events, we support thousands of organisers across the UK and beyond saving time, reducing admin, and delivering a seamless experience for their customers.
Whether you're running your first event or scaling a nationwide franchise, Bookwhen gives you everything you need to manage bookings in one place.

Our exclusive podcast sponsor, Make Your Mark Podcast Agency are passionate about helping franchise brands and awards bodies alike amplify their visibility, build deeper connections, and stay ahead of the curve—and podcasting is a game-changing tool to do just that.

This partnership is about backing a movement we both believe in—and sparking a conversation that franchisors and event organisers can’t afford to ignore.

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