Sherpa Kids – an international franchiser that runs before and after school clubs and holidays activities for primary school-aged children – is looking for entrepreneurs to help it expand its ‘fresh and vibrant childcare services’ across the UK.

With many families struggling to find the right childcare at the right price, according to reports, such as the Government’s More Affordable Childcare report, July 2013, Sherpa Kids believes there is a gap in the market.

The company, which was launched in New Zealand in 1996 and has more than 100 franchises worldwide, in locations including Australia, Ireland and South Africa, wants to recruit franchisees across the UK and appoint a manager for the whole of the UK.

Sherpa Kids, which currently has five childcare club franchises in England, will launch in two London schools this month (February) – Our Lady of Lourdes School and Tudor School, which are both in Finchley.

The company offers safe, structured, engaging, fun activity-based programmes ranging from arts and crafts, to music and drama, sport and games, cooking and technology, with activities tailored to fit in with the individual requirements of schools and their curriculums, while adhering to early learning frameworks.

Since the clubs are run on a franchise basis, they benefit from the local knowledge of the provider and contribute to economic and employment prospects locally all decision-making is done at local level by franchise owners who are encouraged to source products locally too.

Vicki Prout, Director, Sherpa Kids International, said: “We know that many working parents in the UK are desperate to find good quality childcare at an affordable price. Yet these services can be like gold dust, particularly for primary school-aged children.

“We believe that Sherpa Kids offers a really exciting franchising opportunity for entrepreneurs who have the vision, business acumen and interpersonal skills needed to help us expand our childcare services across the UK.”