Amanda Hicks from JUMP! Fairfield in the running for Franchise Woman of the Year!

Amanda Hicks, founder of JUMP! Swim Schools Fairfield, joins a standout field of female entrepreneurs to compete for the ultimate prize of being named 2017 Australian Franchise Woman of the Year. Her entrepreneurial spirit and business success is providing a positive influence on the growth of women.

She opened JUMP! Swim Schools Fairfield in February 2015 with just 62 students. In two years she has built her business into a thriving swim school with nearly 500 little swimmers.

JUMP!’s franchising model gave Amanda the opportunity to join her love for swimming and decade of aquatic education with strategic business savvy and an MBA. She will be opening her second JUMP! Swim School franchise in partnership with her sister in late 2017.

 “I am blessed to share my franchise experience with my sisters, both of whom now work for JUMP! Fairfield.  I am so proud that my business can support their families and provide meaningful employment for them,” said Ms Hicks.

Having the courage to sign her franchise agreement will always be one of Ms Hick’s biggest business achievements.

 “Joining a franchise in its infancy can bring its challenges, and I was the very first franchisee to sign on with JUMP! Swim Schools.

“JUMP! Swim Schools has a ‘pinkie promise’ to our customers: to treat each child as if they are our own.  I believe my staff have taken this one step further to extend this promise to my own baby—my franchise. Like any other toddler, having a two-year-old franchise can be challenging at times! And rewarding.

 

Today JUMP! Swim Schools has 46 swim schools open both in Australian and internationally and was awarded Emerging Franchisor of the Year by the Franchise Council in 2017.

 

Image: Amanda Hicks (centre) with her sisters and nieces:

(L) Rebecca Marshall and her daughter Sophie Marshall (18 months)

(R) Fiona Tickner and her niece Charlotte Marshall (4 years)