Sophie Brooks

Featured Franchises

Sophie Brooks

Clive’s Easylearn Pop Music School’s Franchisor, Sophie Brooks, received a top national award for women in franchising at the first annual Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) Awards in London. Sophie won Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010.

Sophie, aged 23, took over from her father as Managing Director in 2010 and had already clocked up 5 years in the business as franchise support and she also runs her own successful outlets within the brand. She is the UK’s youngest franchisor and is injecting young, dynamic and fresh thinking into the business to enable it to achieve it’s full potential, both here and overseas. Sophie is a member of the Encouraging Women Into Franchising group (EWIF) and actively promotes the benefits of franchising for female entrepreneurs.

Sophie says: “ I was delighted to win the EWIF Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010 award. Franchising is a fantastic opportunity for people to run their own businesses and I would love to see more women entering my franchise as they possess many unique qualities and characteristics that enhance the network. I’m really excited about the future, especially with the tremendous franchisees in each of my rockschool outlets behind me. I’m looking forward to encouraging more women to join us and helping them to achieve success and recognition."

EWIF was set up in 2008 by Clive Sawyer with the aim of inspiring, encouraging and supporting women thinking of or already involved in running a franchise. Members include franchisees and franchisors from every sector and from across the country.

The organisers were thrilled with the response to this inaugural event and the high calibre of all the entries.

Sophie was awarded Woman Franchisor of the Year for her dedication to developing and expanding the franchise business, which has seen her go from office junior to managing director.

In 2011 there were four awards, and the winners were:

1. Lisa Tobias, Domino's Pizza, Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010
2. Amanda Perkins - Musical Minis -Young Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 (under 30)
3. Sophie Brooks - Clive's Easylearn Pop Music Schools - Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010
4. Sarah Cook – Coconut Creatives - Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2010

In 2012, the number of awards for the year 2011 has increased to six:

1. The NatWest Award for Woman Franchisee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisee during 2011
2. The Recognition Express Award for New Woman Franchisee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisee during 2011 that became a franchisee after 1^st January 2010.
3. The Coconut Creatives Award for Woman Franchisor of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisor during 2011.
4. The WPA Award for New Woman Franchisor of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisor during 2011 that launched their franchise after 1^st January 2009.
5. The Owen White Award for Franchisor Woman Employee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful franchisor woman employee during 2012
6. The Franchise Show Award for Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchise service provider during 2012

PLUS - The Business Options Outstanding Contribution to Women in Franchising Award 2011 - Recognising the work of a woman who has made a major contribution to franchising in 2011.

Note: Individuals can not nominate themselves for this Award. The winner will be chosen by the judges based on their knowledge of the special work of the individual.

For further information on EWIF and the EWIF Awards 2012, go to www.ewif.org

Anyone wishing to enter one of the awards should go to www.ewif.org/page5.htm and download the relevant entry form and ensure they are received at awards@ewif.org by 5pm on 24^th February 2012. The Award Ceremony will be in London on Thursday 29^th March 2012.