Rock school expands

Sep 10 2008 By David Simister

A PAIR of musically-minded Denbigh entrepreneurs rocked the business world last week by expanding their innovative school of pop to locations across the UK.

Husband and wife team Stuart and Lowri Wynne, who run the Rock Project from their base on Chapel Street, announced on Monday [September 5] that their business had been taken up by five new franchisees across the country.

"The response has been phenomenal. We currently have schools open in Denbigh, Mold and Chester and from September there will be a further 5 schools opening as far afield as Oswestry, Merseyside and Carlisle" said Musical Director Stuart Wynne.

"With 3 more opening along the North Wales coast in October this is a very exciting time for all of us. Each school provides work for 4 music tutors."

Under the expansion, each franchisee is free to open any number of music schools within an allocated area, and the firm’s owners say they have made deals for Cumbria, the North West, North Wales and Cheshire.

Mr Wynne says that the new franchisees have come from all walks of life, including a headteacher and a nurse, but all share a common interest in rock and pop music.

The Rock Project, formed four years ago in Denbigh, teaches youngsters musical skills and helps them gain careers in the music business, inspired by the success of TV shows such as The X-Factor and Popstars.

After launching the franchising aspect of their business at the Manchester Central exhibition centre in January this year over ten parties interested in setting up their own Rock Project schools have struck deals with the Denbigh duo, including a new school announced this week due to set up in Manchester.

As well as the Denbigh site, schools set to open soon in the North Wales region include Mold, Wrexham, Llangollen, Abergele, Llandudno and Bangor, with organisers stressing collaboration will be sought with locally-based businesses.

See Your Vale reporter David Simister singing with Rock Project band The Excuse online at www.yourvale.co.uk