A STAGE school has won a prestigious industry award at a ceremony described as the 'Oscars of franchising'.

It was a night of total celebration at the bfa HSBC Franchise Awards with Razzamataz Penrith winning both of their categories.

Razzamataz battled it out against three other franchise brands to take home the coveted Lifestyle Franchisor accolade, which was collected by MD and Founder Denise Hutton-Gosney.

This year, Razzamataz said it has heavily invested in its franchisees and head office structure to enable every franchise partner to 'build the business that best suits their lifestyle, while being profitable, providing exceptional standards of performing arts training and opportunities to students and giving back to their local community'.

The team were delighted when Asha Richardson, principal of Razzamataz South Lakes in Penrith, was announced as the winner in the Lifestyle Franchisee category of the British Franchise Awards.

Asha was 23 when she started to work as a teacher for Razzamataz Penrith but straight away, knew that she wanted a bigger challenge and believed that she could offer more as a franchisee.

She took over Razzamataz Penrith mid-pandemic and in just over two and a half years, she said the business has grown by 700 per cent.

At 28, Asha has piloted new services for the brand’s head office, supported and mentored one of her teachers into a franchise partner role, and given back to her local community through different types of support and charitable work.

She also has her own charity in Ghana.

Gilliam Morris, head of franchising at HSBC, said: “This lady has taken her franchise, made it her own and inspired others to do the same.

“She is a mentor in the franchisee community, she champions diversity within her business and is piloting an exciting new concept for her franchisor.

“She does it while juggling a young family and still manages to spend six weeks in Ghana supporting her own charity.”

Razzamataz South Lakes has schools in Penrith, Kendal and Appleby with a range of classes including parent and baby classes as well as the main school, which offers singing, dancing and drama training up to the age of 18.

Asha and her team also offer opportunities such as theatre trips, masterclasses with musical theatre stars, scholarships and performing opportunities both locally and on the West End stage at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

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