Early childhood education franchise MindChamps has signed a joint venture deal with JAGM Capital to launch 60 state-of-the-art childcare centres in Victoria over the next six years.
David Chiem, founder, executive chair and group CEO of MindChamps told Franchise Executives the major goal is well within reach.
“In the metro area alone we can have 30 sites and our target includes regional locations. We can have one in every town,” Chiem said.
Michael Bronfman, managing director of JAGM Capital, told Franchise Executives, “When you look at competitors, they’ve achieved much larger numbers in Victoria alone. We recognise that between three centres about 30 per cent of parents are unhappy with the childcare so we can achieve our number.”
A development parter will help rollout the centres
Northgate Developments, which is part of the JAGM group, has been brought on board as a strategic partner. Northgate will leverage its expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects, and assist in the construction and rollout of the centres.
Angelo De Bortoli, managing director of Northgate Developments, said he is proud to play a key role in a game-changing initiative.
“Our team is excited to contribute to creating environments that will not only serve as high-quality learning spaces but will also provide families with the foundation they need to succeed in a fast-evolving world,” Bortoli said.
Bronfman said the group is working through its strategy for development and identifying the best locations to kickstart the growth for the premium childcare offer.
“We will operate some ourselves but franchising is the core model of the Victorian market,” he said.
“Part of what attracted us to Mindchamps is the structures and systems in place, and the brand’s dominance in the Asian market. If we can bring level of sophistication of education to the Australian market, and change our future leaders, that’s something to be excited about.”
MindChamps has developed an overseas market
MindChamps now has more than 100 international sites, includine one in Bali, and one set to open in the Maldives in July.
Chiem began the MindChamps business in Sydney before relocating to Singapore.
“We ran our own 19 centres in Sydney, which we acquired from existing centres, in the first five years to understand the gaps in the education process. When we bought from five different groups none was running a literacy program.
“We have spent time preparing to rollout nationally, using our unique research-based curriculum and training the team,” Chiem said.
MindChamps has a master franchisee in Western Australia, with one centre due to open in August. The early learning centre business has a joint venture parter in Queensland, and in South Australia.
In New South Wales the company will now start to franchise each individual location.
