With over 15 years’ experience in the performing arts and more than a decade running and growing children’s activity businesses, James Aconley brings real-world experience, practical strategies and a passion for helping business owners succeed.

James is the Principal and Franchisee of multiple Pauline Quirke Academy (PQA) academies, where he oversees hundreds of students, a large teaching and management team and multiple locations. Alongside PQA, he also runs a production company and two adult musical theatre choirs.

Having grown his own businesses from the ground up, James understands the realities of running a class-based business — from recruitment and team development to managing multiple sites, creating effective systems, improving customer experience and finding sustainable ways to grow.

Now, as a CPD Certified Children’s Activity Business Strategist, James uses that experience to help other children’s activity business owners move from where they are now to where they want to be.

His particular areas of expertise include team development, multi-site management, business growth, systems and processes, leadership and performing arts businesses. However, James works with class-based children’s activity businesses across a wide range of sectors.

His approach is practical, honest and focused on action. Rather than offering generic business advice, James draws on the lessons he has learnt from actually building and managing successful activity businesses — including the things that worked, the things that didn’t, and everything in between.

Whether you’re looking to grow your first class, develop your team, open another location, become less reliant on yourself or simply get more clarity about your next steps, James can help you create a practical strategy to move forward.

Your business has potential. James can help you turn that potential into a plan — and a plan into progress.

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