Being part of the WOW team
We have big ambitions within our team for our future in the family activities market. Every programme within the WOW group has its own programme 'champion' who has specialist skills and training to support the ongoing development of their programme. They also have the desire to remain the best in their field.
These are the people who would be beside you;
Becky Hughes - Director of WOW Australia and New Zealand
Baby Sensory was still fairly new to the UK when Becky attended classes with her first son in 2008. From the outset, she was impressed by the professionalism, quality, structure and creativity of the programme - and classes were so much fun! For one hour each week she could focus on her baby in a supportive setting, whilst also having the opportunity to meet other parents and build new social and support networks.
Becky and her family were planning to relocate from the UK to Australia in 2009 and she knew this was a fantastic opportunity to share her Baby Sensory experience with other families. It would also provide an opportunity to grow successful business and balance a rewarding career with raising a young family.
After discussions with Baby Sensory Head Office in the UK, and in-depth research into the baby and toddler activity market in Australia and New Zealand - which identified an opportunity in the market for a class such as Baby Sensory - Becky acquired the international franchise rights for the programme and Baby Sensory Australia and New Zealand was born!
In 2020, Becky was named as WA Franchise Woman of the Year in the Franchise Council of Australia awards. She was also honoured to be named as a Finalist in the National Franchise Woman of the Year award.
Dr. Lin and Howard Day - Founders of the Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense and Baby Foundations programmes
Happily married for more than 40 years working together in Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK, and proud parents of 4 children and a growing family of grandchildren, Howard and Lin have been involved in teaching and supporting parents and children in the early-years sector for nearly 40 years.
After running their our own very successful nursery school, they started adventure classes for toddlers, development classes for babies, and more recently, pre and postnatal workshops for parents. Today, they are still heavily involved in developing and improving our programmes and products to ensure that parents and children receive the highest possible quality service and the very best start in life.
They truly believe that learning in a fun and exciting way builds a strong foundation for children’s emotional, social, physical and intellectual development and prepares them for a more fruitful, healthy and confident future.
Among the qualifications they bring to the team, Lin holds the following; PhD, M. Phil, PGCE, FETC, BSc, Dip.Ed, SRN.
Ian and Keeley Sharland - WOW World Group International Directors (UK)
Husband and wife, Ian and Keeley Sharland joined forces with Lin & Howard Day to create and grow the Baby Sensory business in 2006 using their business, legal and tech expertise. Their vision has always been to become a world class business by bringing together an excellent & committed franchise team and innovative programmes developed by subject matter experts.
With the creation of the WOW umbrella brand in 2017 Ian and Keeley are now focused on the growth of the new programmes within the U.K. and further development of the WOW brand internationally.
In 2016 Ian was awarded Industry Champion of the Year by Whatson4 UK as a recognition of his stature within the UK children’s activities industry.
Emily Whyte and Sophie Allnutt - founders of the Mini Professors programme
Emily and Sophie, the co-founders of Mini Professors, are based in Winchester, UK, where they started the classes. A biologist (Emily) and Master of Science (Sophie), both have worked in the science community before starting Mini Professors.
With 3 children each and veterans of children’s classes, they noticed a lack of science-related classes and thought there might be an opportunity to provide them, using their passion for science and children.
Both strongly feel that all children have a great thirst for learning from a young age and, therefore, should be given every opportunity to develop and learn new skills. With a background in science and experience of young children, they can help to nurture a love of science. They are passionate that science shouldn't be boring and stuffy the way it was in their day and hope their enthusiasm for science will rub off on the children who join the fun of Mini Professors.
.png)
