Catherine Williams is founder of Popcats which offers singing and dancing classes for pre-school children and she has transformed her business after having an office built in her back garden
Wirral entrepreneur Catherine Williams is expanding her singing and dancing classes business across the North West after moving into a new office – at home.
Ms Williams is the founder of Popcats Music Time singing and dancing classes for pre-school children. She is now rolling out franchises with plans to open in Liverpool next year to add to existing locations in Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Southport and Crosby.
She initially ran the business from her Wirral home, which she shares with husband Jon and their three children, and held meetings in cafes and other public venues but soon became frustrated by the lack of privacy and space.
So rather than looking for eternal office space she decided to create an office and meeting room in their garden with the help of a specialist firm – Rubicon Garden Rooms.
The business creates bespoke units used for everything from home offices to hobby dens, teenage chill-spaces and annexes for dependent relatives.
Ms Williams, who was a primary school teacher for 15 years, said: “My husband Jon and I wanted an outdoor space that wasn’t a summer house or just a shed. My business is growing now and I have a lot of franchises so having meetings in public places is not ideal.”
She always believed the idea behind her classes would appeal to a large number of parents. She explained: “I was doing supply teaching when I set up Popcats. I’ve always loved music and, having had three children, I knew what I wanted to create as both a parent and teacher.
“I knew that by making the classes pay as you go, it would have appeal. I never took my children to classes where it was pay up front because you don’t always have the money or your child can fall ill and it’s wasted money. Now I’m in a position where I can take up to 50 in a class.
“The classes cover the seven areas of early years foundation stage. Childminders love it for that reason and I have parents who don’t take their kids to nursery on specific days so they can attend the classes.”