In this episode of Mini Athletics & Me, we chat with Frances, who runs Mini Athletics Central Scotland and is our second franchisee in Scotland.

Frances spent nearly 20 years at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, travelling between Scotland and London. As she turned 40, she decided it was time for a complete change. She’d always dreamed of working with kids and sport, and after a chat with her life coach and a quick search online, she found Mini Athletics. Six months after her first class, she’s calling it “the best job in the world”.

In this episode:

• Why Frances left a corporate career after 20 years, and how she found Mini Athletics
• Going from “just the mum and the auntie” to coach, and why the training and support never really stop
• Starting with two or three children per class and her coach’s advice to “just keep turning up”
• Why she chose to launch in less affluent areas, with lower prices to give back to the community
• How word of mouth built a real community, including parents stopping her in the street
• Getting past the awkward early days and the imposter syndrome
• Bringing her own kids into the business (her 11-year-old is already asking for a job!)

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome Frances
00:29 Life before Mini Athletics: the Foreign Office
01:18 Finding Mini Athletics
03:54 Running her own business, but never alone
05:26 Training and her first classes
07:42 How local families have responded
12:23 The biggest challenge so far
15:08 Advice for anyone thinking of joining
16:10 Making it a family affair
17:57 What’s next for Central Scotland

Thinking about running your own Mini Athletics franchise? Download our brochure and find out more at https://miniathletics-franchise.subscribepage.io

The podcast discusses the upcoming Charity Week for Mini Athletics, highlighting its history, themes, and the impact it has on children and families. Hosts Clare and Hannah share their excitement about the new theme, Baby GoG!o, and the importance of raising funds for charities that support children in need. This years charity partner is Imagine This is the UK and St Giles in the USA.

Takeaways

• Charity Week fosters community spirit
• Children learn empathy through fundraising

Chapters

• 00:00 The Excitement of Charity Week
• 01:16 History and Impact of Charity Week
• 03:19 Themes That Bring Joy
• 06:39 The Role of Imagination in Learning
• 07:24 Supporting Children in Need
• 09:09 Building a Network of Support
• 11:50 Looking Forward to Charity Week

The podcast episode features a conversation with Shelbi Jackson, a Mini Athletics franchisee in Central Texas, USA. Shelbi shares her sports background, the growth of track in Central Texas, the importance of fundamental athletic skills, and the role of Mini Athletics in sports development. She also discusses her experience in business, transferable skills, and the comprehensive nature of the Mini Athletics program. The episode concludes with a discussion about future plans and the potential for a follow-up interview.

Takeaways

• Importance of fundamental athletic skills
• Mini Athletics program offers comprehensive learning experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Shelbi Jackson
• 01:10 Shelbi's Sports Background
• 03:07 The Growth of Track in Central Texas
• 05:14 The Importance of Fundamental Athletic Skills
• 08:31 Mini Athletics and Its Role in Sports Development
• 17:16 Mini Athletics Business and Challenges
• 24:21 Transferable Skills and Mini Athletics Program
• 28:01 The Comprehensive Nature of Mini Athletics
• 30:17 Conclusion and Future Plans

If you want to find out more about franchising visit our franchising page and if you have any questions why not book a call with a member of our team. What do you have to lose?

Episode 9: Family, Flexibility, and Finding Her Flow – Rachel’s Mini Athletics Story

In this uplifting episode of Mini Athletics and Me, Clare and Hannah chat with Rachel Russell, a dynamic business owner and mum of two, who swapped the 9-to-5 office life for the freedom and fulfilment of running Mini Athletics South Birmingham.

Rachel opens up about her leap into self-employment, sharing the honest highs and lows of building a business while raising a young family. From school runs to strategy sessions, she reveals how she’s found rhythm and resilience in the juggle of parenting and entrepreneurship.

We hear how the supportive Mini Athletics network empowered her transition, how involving her daughters has brought unexpected joy, and why flexibility has been the biggest game-changer of all.

Whether you're a parent dreaming of more balance, someone considering franchising, or just love real-life stories of growth and grit, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and a reminder that you really can do both.

Mini Athletics: Discover how our play-based programs are helping kids thrive through sport and movement at www.miniathletics.com

Follow Us: For updates, stories, and tips, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @miniathletics

Love the Podcast? Leave us a review and share with someone exploring life beyond the desk.

🎧 Produced and Edited by Rob Sillito

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 6: From the Pitch to the Playground – Nathan Tyson on Reinvention, Resilience & Coaching with Heart

In this uplifting and motivating episode of Mini Athletics and Me, Clare Bowyer and Hannah Danby are joined by former professional footballer Nathan Tyson to discuss his remarkable shift from the stadium spotlight to the vibrant world of coaching children.

After 24 years on the pitch, Nathan opens up about his bold leap into entrepreneurship as a Mini Athletics franchisee in Nottingham—a journey sparked by looking for fun, active experiences for his own son. He shares the challenges of starting over, the power of community, and how the joy of seeing children grow through sport has brought new meaning to his life.

Nathan’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and passion. From navigating the learning curve of business ownership to finding fulfillment in play-based coaching, he offers real talk and practical advice for anyone considering a new path—especially those transitioning from high-performance careers into purpose-driven roles.

With warmth and honesty, Nathan reflects on the importance of persistence, the value of energetic coaching, and why laughter, learning, and little victories are what it’s all about.

Whether you’re a sports fan, aspiring coach, or simply curious about life after professional athletics, this episode is a testament to how reinvention can lead to even greater impact.

Mini Athletics: Discover how our inclusive, confidence-building programs help children thrive through sport and play at www.miniathletics.com

Follow Us: Join our active, supportive community on Instagram and Facebook @miniathletics for stories, tips, and event updates.

Love the Podcast? Leave us a review and share your feedback—your support helps us spotlight even more inspiring journeys.

Produced and Edited by Rob Sillito

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 5: Drawing from the Heart – Eleanor Tomlinson on Art, Animals & Unexpected Fame

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Mini Athletics and Me, Clare Bowyer and Hannah Danby sit down with celebrated artist Eleanor Tomlinson to explore her journey from sports-averse schoolgirl to viral sensation and passionate creative.

Eleanor opens up about how her love for animals has shaped her artistic path, her early days balancing a school business with drawing for fun, and the moment her Jubilee illustration of the Queen captured the nation’s heart. From viral fame to meaningful pet portraits, Eleanor shares how her art helps people heal, remember, and celebrate life’s moments—big and small.

The conversation dives into how creativity can emerge from unlikely places, the value of embracing imperfection, and why inspiring children to be imaginative is more important than ever. Eleanor also discusses how the challenges of the pandemic shaped her work and outlook, and she gives us a glimpse into exciting projects on the horizon.

With stories of growth, grief, joy, and a lot of heart, this episode is a celebration of the artist’s journey and a reminder that creativity belongs to everyone—no matter where they begin.

Whether you're an art lover, parent, or dreamer chasing a passion, this episode will leave you uplifted, motivated, and maybe even ready to pick up a pencil.

Mini Athletics: Discover how our inclusive, confidence-building programs help children thrive through sport and play at www.miniathletics.com

Follow Us: Be part of our creative, active community on Instagram and Facebook @miniathletics for more stories, tips, and event highlights.

Love the Podcast? Leave us a review and share your thoughts—your support helps us keep bringing inspiring stories to life.

Produced and Edited by Rob Sillito

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2: The Mini Athletics Journey – Starting Strong with Seb & Harriet

This week on Mini Athletics and Me, Hannah and Clare are joined by two special guests – Seb and Harriet! Just two weeks after launching their own Mini Athletics journeys, they reflect on how they're feeling and what led them to take the leap into the world of kids’ fitness and coaching.

In this episode, they share their personal motivations for joining Mini Athletics, the process of going from signing up to running their first sessions, and what their initial training was like. They also open up about the challenges they've faced so far and how they’re adapting to their new roles.

Most importantly, Seb and Harriet discuss the exciting impact Mini Athletics is already having on their lives – and how they see it shaping their future. Whether you're thinking about joining Mini Athletics or just love hearing inspiring stories about new beginnings, this episode is packed with insights and real-life experiences!

Tune in and join us for an honest and uplifting conversation about taking the first steps toward something new.

Mini Athletics: Learn more about our programs and how we’re helping kids develop sports skills in a fun, supportive environment at www.miniathletics.com

Follow Us: Stay connected for all the latest updates, tips, and motivational content on our Instagram and Facebook @miniathletics

Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others find the show and ensures we keep delivering top-notch content!

Don’t forget to hit subscribe, Your feedback keeps us motivated and helps us shape future episodes.

Produced and Edited- Rob Sillito

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mini Athletics in Northern Ireland with Sarah Loat - Why This Ex-Teacher Chose Franchising to Build Something Bigger

Clare Bowyer and Hannah Danby speak with Sarah Loat, franchisee of Mini Athletics Armagh, Banbridge, about building a thriving local program, coaching children through structured play, and balancing franchise life with family and school holidays. Sarah shares how her teaching background shaped her coaching style, why Mini Athletics stood out from other children's activity businesses, and what it takes to grow a business with high standards and community support.

Key topics

• In this episode, Sarah Loat explains how she moved from teaching into Mini Athletics after taking her eldest son to classes and seeing the opportunity to bring the program to Northern Ireland.
• Sarah shares why the structure of Mini Athletics mattered to her as a former teacher, especially the lesson plans, physical literacy focus, teamwork, and age-appropriate progression.
• She talks about the joy of seeing children stay with the program for years, moving from teenies to minis, and building confidence through repeated weekly sessions.
• Sarah describes the impact the classes have had on children with additional needs, including children supported by occupational therapists who have improved core strength, coordination, jumping, and throwing.
• Clare and Hannah highlight the role Mini Athletics plays as both a local community and a franchise network, giving Sarah support when she needs advice or reassurance.
• Sarah is candid about her biggest challenge being recruitment, particularly finding coaches who meet her standards while still bringing the right energy and approach.
• She explains how she has adapted her coaching style by training new coaches more quickly and more directly, drawing on her teaching experience with trainee teachers.
• Sarah admits promotion and self-marketing remain harder than coaching, especially doing lives, putting herself on camera, and promoting the business publicly.
• She reflects on the pride she feels when parents praise the classes, children return after breaks, and local sports groups such as Kilcoo GAA and camogie sessions recognise the value of fundamental movement skills.
• Sarah closes by sharing plans to expand delivery into nurseries and after-school clubs with a new coach, Joshua, starting training and helping the business reach more children in the area.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.