Bexley children’s language company up for award
By Melissa Kasule
A businesswoman’s two-year-old company is in the running for an award for her approach to teaching language.
Sarah Canavan from Bexley has been shortlisted as a finalist at the BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards for her children’s language company – Lingotot Bexley.
Wanting to make a difference in the community, the entrepreneur launched Lingotot Bexley in April 2018, inviting residents at her local care home – Riverdale Court in Welling, to join language classes with her young Lingotot students.
Sarah has since partnered with Bexley council to expand to other local nursing homes and has been rolled out to franchisees across the country.
Lingotot Bexley’s good works have been recognised with awards after previously being voted Best New Business in the Bexley Business Excellence Awards of 2019.
Amidst lockdown, Sarah has moved her classes on to Zoom, working alongside Riverdale Court Care Home and Smyth Lodge Care Home in Sidcup.
Sarah said: “I am delighted to be a finalist in the 2020 BFA Awards for the Local Focus category.
“I am very passionate about my local community and it is an honour to be recognised by the BFA.
“I feel proud to be representing the Lingotot brand at the awards and look forward to the next stage.
“I feel very lucky as Lingotot has become BFA accredited since I bought the franchise, which is a huge bonus and confirmation of Lingotot’s professionalism and standing within education.
“It is fabulous to have such a recognised body supporting us.
“My aim long-term is to find some funding so that I can invite socially and financially-challenged families to attend our Generations classes once our face-to-face classes are allowed to return, so that they too can feel part of their local community.”
Sarah will go head-to-head against two other franchisees on November 30 at the BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards in Birmingham.
Pictured top: Sarah Canavan with her partner’s grandmother, Eileen Ward, at Riverdale Court Care Home