In 2011, Kirsty had long been looking to change her life since her son was born three and a half years earlier. She said: "I took time off from my job and had a look at what was around. I was looking for a business that was family friendly and in the Edinburgh area and Spanish Amigos came up."

However for Barber, investing in a Spanish Amigos franchise satisfied her interests perfectly. "I have always had a bit of a passion for all things Spanish," she said. "In fact I'd tried to get my son lessons in Edinburgh before and was unable to find anywhere, so I had sort of done my research already."

Now, going into her third year of trading as a Spanish language tutorial business, she is hoping to make more money than ever before. She added: "I am nearly up to making the same amount as I did in my previous job, I have seen an increase in enquiries and families coming to us since I began."

She continued: "I think it would be a huge advantage for anyone looking to buy into this franchise to have a good understanding of Spanish. If a teacher is off sick, you usually end up as the cover, so you have to know what you're talking about."

For Barber, investing in Spanish Amigos has been a refreshing change: "I really enjoy the lifestyle I have now and that I get more time to see my son," she added. "I don't have the same stress in my life as I had before."

Published: 19 July 2013

Back to news