A Scottish primary school teacher who had to take a career break due to long Covid has now won a national award for her new music and movement franchise.
Mairi Curle launched the Boogie Beat franchise for Edinburgh, Mid and East Lothian at the beginning of 2023. She had taken a break from her primary school teaching role in Dalkeith after falling ill with long Covid.
Boogie Beat, which boasts over 20 franchisees across the UK, offers a variety of children’s workshops and classes that combine music, singing, dancing, and storytelling.
Since its inception, Mairi’s franchise has grown significantly, leading her to hire four teachers to help deliver classes in nurseries and at birthday parties.
Despite having no prior business experience, Mairi utilised Business Gateway’s Planning To Start Tool to evaluate the feasibility of her new venture.
She also benefited from Business Gateway’s start-up services, receiving one-to-one support from a business adviser who assisted with her business plan and marketing strategy.
Through Business Gateway, Mairi secured a £1,000 start-up grant from East Lothian Council’s LA-CER New Business Start-Up Support fund.
This grant helped cover the costs of equipment, advertising, and marketing materials such as a pull-up banner, leaflets, and posters.
In February, just a year after launching, Mairi was awarded the Federation of Small Businesses Franchise Award for Scotland. She later triumphed at the UK finals in May.
Looking ahead, Mairi plans to develop intergenerational classes that bring together care home residents and local children for music, dance, storytelling, and movement activities.
She also continues to support her charity partner, Love From Jamie, by donating a portion of her profits to help fund the charity’s work with bereaved families.
Mairi Curle, Owner, Boogie Beats, said: “I always felt like I was wearing the Boogie Beat teacher hat, and not the businesswoman hat, so it felt really surreal to receive an award for the business side of things.
“The support I’ve received from Business Gateway has been fundamental in helping my business start and grow. Their fantastic resources and networking events are fantastic. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help.”
Irene Ramsay, Business Gateway East Lothian business adviser, said: “Taking on a franchise can be really daunting, but Mairi has worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to ensure her Boogie Beat region has been a success. I’ve no doubt her birthday party offering will continue to be popular over the summer months and look forward to watching the intergenerational classes develop.”
