EP51: Tots United | A PE Teacher And A Lawyer Build A Kids' Football Academy
Get in touch with us directly todayYou can feel it when a kids activity brand is built for families instead of vanity metrics, and Ajay and Yusif from Tots United are a perfect example. We talk through how they’ve grown their Glasgow-based football classes from a small start into 20+ locations, with hundreds of children taking part every week, while keeping the sessions fun, structured, and genuinely welcoming for parents and kids from 18 months to 8 years old. We get specific about what makes their model work: a dual-program approach combining football and a fresh take on children’s gymnastics, plus a values-led culture rooted in care and love. Ajay shares the coaching and curriculum side from his PE teacher background, while Yusif brings the legal and systems lens that supports partnerships, contracts, and big expansion moves. We also unpack their quality-first franchising strategy, why they start with trusted internal coaches, and how they onboard franchisees with hands-on support so the experience stays consistent. The conversation goes wider too: winning Entrepreneur of the Year recognition, a detailed brand refresh process, building a stronger team, and a candid debate about AI tools versus “RI” real intelligence. We finish with what’s next, including international ambition and what they hope the brand becomes over the next year. If you like thoughtful small business growth stories, kids sports coaching insights, and practical franchising lessons, subscribe, share this with a fellow club owner, and leave us a like. What part of scaling would you refuse to compromise on?Get Social with Us:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn