Posted:30-July-2026
From teacher to business owner: three Stagecoach franchisees take the lead
Three long-serving members of the Stagecoach network have taken the next step in their careers by acquiring established performing arts schools in Ormskirk, Northwood and Harrogate.
Emma Furnell, Louisa White and Rachael Whitehead have each spent more than a decade working within Stagecoach Performing Arts before becoming franchisees. Although their routes to business ownership have been different, all three were motivated by a desire to protect what makes their schools special while building something of their own.
The trio completed their franchisee training together at Stagecoach head office, covering business planning, finance, marketing, recruitment, safeguarding, compliance and the systems used to manage their schools. For prospective franchisees, their stories demonstrate how professional experience gained in teaching, leadership, performance or community work can provide a strong foundation for running a successful business.
Stagecoach Performing Arts was founded to give children and young people the opportunity to develop through singing, dancing and acting. Its schools support students not only in the performing arts but in building confidence, communication, creativity and other skills that benefit them throughout their lives.
A natural next step
Louisa White will take over Stagecoach Northwood after working at the school for around 13 years, primarily as a drama teacher and Main Stages manager. Her connection with Stagecoach stretches back even further, having first taught at Stagecoach Watford in her twenties.
Originally drawn to the performing arts, Louisa trained as a primary school teacher after being encouraged to pursue what was considered a more conventional career. She later became a deputy headteacher while continuing to find ways to bring performance into education. Over almost 30 years, her career has combined teaching, school leadership and performing arts. She also previously ran a small children’s activity franchise while raising her three children.
When the existing Northwood franchisee decided to retire after 20 years, Louisa saw the opportunity as a natural progression. “Everything I’ve done has been rooted in performance and education, so taking over Stagecoach Northwood felt like the natural next step,” said Louisa. “I already know the school, the team and many of the families but becoming the franchisee gives me a new challenge and the opportunity to use my leadership experience in a different way.
“The business and finance side has required me to develop new skills, but that’s also what makes it exciting. The support and training have helped me understand how to bring together the creative and commercial sides of the role.”
Stagecoach Northwood currently supports around 200 students across Early Stages, Main Stages and Further Stages. More than 70% of its new students come through personal recommendations, giving Louisa a strong existing reputation to build upon. Her immediate priority is to ensure a smooth transition for families and staff.
Building on a 29-year legacy
Rachael Whitehead is taking over Stagecoach Harrogate from Celia Derby, who has run the territory for 30 years. Rachael joined the school 17 years ago - her first job after completing her musical theatre training. Since then, she has taught dance across Early Stages and Main Stages while also working in secondary schools, teaching examination classes and delivering BTEC performing arts programmes.
Celia approached Rachael about acquiring the business because she believed someone already embedded within the school would be best placed to continue its legacy.
“The longevity of the business was a major factor for my family,” said Rachael. “Seeing what Celia has built showed us that this could be a meaningful long-term investment, not just financially but in the life we want to create as a family.
“I know the children, the parents and the team, and I understand the difference Stagecoach can make. Not every child wants to become a performer, but they all gain something from it. Watching a shy child grow in confidence or find the freedom to express themselves is what has kept me here for so many years.”
With her youngest child starting school in September, Rachael felt the timing was right to take on a new professional challenge. She will move away from regular dance teaching to focus on leading the school, although she plans to remain closely involved in classes and performances. Her existing teaching role will be taken over by a former BTEC student Racheal taught, another rewarding experience to add to her Stagecoach journey.
Rachael plans to introduce more marketing activity, explore an additional Early Stages class and consider holiday workshops and Mini Stages sessions in the future. The established teaching team will remain with the school throughout the transition.
“Learning about marketing, business systems and financial planning was particularly valuable during training because those were completely new areas for me,” added Rachael. “I already knew what happens inside the classrooms. The training helped me understand everything that needs to happen around them to run and grow the business.”
Bringing business and community experience together
Emma Furnell has acquired Stagecoach Ormskirk after teaching there for 15 years. She initially joined the school as an Early Stages teacher before progressing into roles across singing, drama, Main Stages, Further Stages and LAMDA tuition. When the previous franchisee, Deborah Fletcher, decided to sell, Emma felt strongly that she wanted to carry the school forward.
Alongside her work with Stagecoach, Emma previously ran a community music and arts school with her husband, James. The organisation provided music tuition and performance opportunities for children from a wide range of backgrounds, including young people in care, those with special educational needs and those outside mainstream education. Its Young Guns programme brought students together to form bands and perform live, giving Emma first-hand experience of building both a business and a creative community.
“Stagecoach Ormskirk means a great deal to me because I’ve seen it grow and have watched what the students gain from being part of it,” said Emma. “When Deborah told me she was selling, it felt like a natural progression, but it also felt important that the school was taken on by someone who already understood its community.
“My previous business taught me a lot about creating opportunities for young people from different backgrounds. I want to bring that same sense of community to the next stage of Ormskirk’s development.”
Emma has chosen to continue teaching during her first year as Principal to provide continuity for students. James, who has experience in youth music, community support and education, will manage the school alongside her.
Experience that transfers into ownership
Despite their different backgrounds, Emma, Louisa and Rachael share a deep understanding of the families, teams and communities they now serve. Their acquisitions also demonstrate the value of franchise resales, where a new owner can take on an established business with existing customers, employees and local recognition.
Lisa Stead, CEO of Stagecoach Performing Arts, said: “Emma, Louisa and Rachael each bring something distinctive to business ownership, whether that is senior leadership experience, previous business ownership or an exceptional understanding of a school built over many years.
“A resale can provide a particularly attractive route into franchising because the new franchisee is not starting from zero. There’s already a community, a team and a trading history in place, supported by the training, systems and expertise of the wider network.”
As they begin the transition from teaching colleagues to franchise peers, the three new owners are already drawing on one another for support. “We all knew Stagecoach well, but we were also facing the same shift from teaching to running a business,” said Louisa. “Training together meant we could talk openly, compare notes and remind each other that nobody has to work everything out alone.”
Interested and want to know more about Stagecoach Performing Arts?
The Stagecoach Performing Arts profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
