This week we discuss Holiday Clubs with a Difference with Amy Cunningham, founder of The Strings Club. Amy outlines how she built a successful childcare business centred around music and wellbeing.

About The Strings Club

Amy launched her business in 2012 after hosting a small holiday camp for six children in Camden. Today, The Strings Club operates in 22 locations across London and the Midlands. Each one offers holiday camps where children learn musical instruments, enjoy creative workshops, and participate in activities like yoga and dance. The week culminates in a Friday afternoon concert where children showcase what they've learned.

Key Business Insights

Amy discusses the importance of slow, steady growth to maintain quality standards. She limits camp sizes to maximum 48 children and requires all team members to attend paid pre-holiday training sessions. Uniquely, free childcare for all staff members is provided, helping parents return to work without prohibitive childcare costs.

The business maintains a strict no-screens policy, which has become a major selling point for parents concerned about children's screen time.

Awards and Recognition

Amy has won multiple awards including Female Entrepreneur of the Year (No Fear Awards), Birmingham Businesswoman of the Year, and silver at the Best Business Women Awards. She encourages entrepreneurs to enter awards for the validation, networking opportunities, and confidence boost they provide.

Lessons Learned

Amy candidly shares her experience with burnout and emphasises the importance of entrepreneur wellbeing, advocating for regular breaks and sustainable business practices over the traditional "no pain, no gain" approach.

About Amy

Amy founded The Strings Club in 2012, transforming a £1,000 Prince's Trust loan and a six-child Camden holiday camp into a multi-award-winning music education company now operating across 22 locations and inspiring nearly half a million children. A former violin teacher driven by music's power to build confidence and creativity, she's grown the business without external investment while championing flexible working and providing free childcare for staff. Her leadership has earned recognition including Start Up Business of the Year, Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year, and Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Amy continues expanding The Strings Club's reach, bringing music's transformative benefits to children UK-wide.

{3:08} Why Amy started The Strings Club.

{5:13} How Amy has grown The Strings Club to what it is today.

{7:08} The facilities The Strings Club offers.

{8:46} A typical day for a child at The Strings Club.

{11:44} Transitioning from teaching music to running a business.

{12:03} Help and support in the early days from the Prince's Trust.

{13:05} Support with marketing.

{14:27} The need to look after yourself.

{15:54} Scaling the business.

{18:31} The profile of a typical holiday camp manager.

{20:01} The challenges of growing the business.

{20:55} Dealing with burnout.

{22:30} Amy's experience with business awards.

{23:36} The impact of the Nectar Awards.

{24:13} Winning the Birmingham Awards.

{25:08} Winning the Female Entrepreneur of the Year.

{27:22} Amy's business tips.

{30:56} The Strings Club no-screens policy.

{34:10} Future plans.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/

Connect with Amy: https://www.thestringsclub.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStringsClub

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_strings_club/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-strings-club-limited/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStringsClub