Member Article

Entrepreneurial mum takes language business from Durham to Dubai

Durham-based Lingotot, a foreign language education provider Lingotot, has opened a Dubai division as part of the firm’s international expansion plans.

Founded by mum of two and former modern foreign languages teacher Angela Sterling back in 2010, the business offers pre and primary school aged language classes across.

Lingotot now teaches more than 10,000 children each week, offering a variety of language classes including French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.

Angela is now exporting her learning formula to the Middle East, where she has already secured a number of contracts with prestigious international schools to provide after school language activities.

Becki Hodgson, who joined Lingotot as a Spanish graduate straight from university only two years ago, will be heading up the Middle East business and will be based in the Lingotot Dubai HQ located in the heart of Business Bay in Dubai.

The business has already appointed three local teachers to deliver its initial courses and expects to increase this number over the coming months.

Angela who spent her formative years as a teacher working in Dubai is familiar with the education systems in the multi-cultural Gulf States and recognised an increasing need to offer children’s language classes.

However the unassuming entrepreneur admits that exporting a UK business in to the UAE is not an easy, straightforward exercise but believes the results will far outweigh the effort.

She explained: “This is one of the most exciting developments for Lingotot and marks the start of what we hope will be our international adventure!

“The Emirate Gulf was an obvious place to start; not only do I know the territory and have a ready-made professional network, the place is a melting pot of different nationalities.

“Whilst most schools teach only in Arabic and English, ex pats from all over the world are keen that their children do not lose their native languages and as a result the demand for language classes is soaring.

“That said I have been overwhelmed by the interest we have received and the number of contracts we have been able to secure before we have even officially opened for business.

“We are going to be working with some of the largest and most highly regarded chains of schools across Dubai and we expect to roll this out to the other Gulf States over the coming months.”

Unlike the UK business, Lingotot Dubai will not follow the franchise model but will instead employ a team of teachers who will be managed locally by Becki and overseen from the UK by Angela and the Lingotot head office team.

Lingotot is working closely with the Government’s Department of International Trade with a view to exporting its successful business to other parts of the globe and is confident that Lingotot Dubai will be the first of a number of international territories.

Angela added: “It’s definitely an exciting time for a girl who has been born and bred in Co Durham and just goes to show that learning a foreign language is hugely important and beneficial the world over!”

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