US-based kids coding franchise Code Ninjas is live in six UK locations and plans to open a further 22 around the nation.
Budding 鈥榥injas鈥� can enjoy coding, gaming and drone building at locations in Hampshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.
The next round of launches will be hot on the heels of the late summer grand openings, with programmes opening up in Potters Bar, Chelmsford, Croydon, Welwyn Garden City and Hammersmith before the end of January.
The Code Ninjas network has grown at a rapid rate. With plans for 22 more locations already in the pipeline, the US-born kids coding school is on track to deliver their fun, interactive coding curriculum to 鈥榥injas鈥� aged 5-14 throughout the nation by 2021.
鈥淚n late August, we celebrated the grand opening of our very first UK location in Watford, Hertfordshire – that was a momentous occasion for Code Ninjas and something the entire team has been working towards for a number of months,鈥� said Justin Nihiser, CEO.
鈥淚t was also around this time that I joined the Code Ninjas team. Stepping up to take the reins of a global kids coding franchise during a pandemic has certainly been a challenge but one I was proud to take on.
鈥淒espite the economic challenges caused by the lockdown period, I鈥檓 pleased to have witnessed such impressive growth first-hand.
鈥淎ll of the locations we鈥檇 planned prior to the 23rd March are now fully operational and our network has almost doubled during the second two quarters of the year. And that鈥檚 just the tip of the iceberg as we plan for 2021.鈥�
Code Ninjas Watford, the brand鈥檚 UK flagship location, opened its doors on Saturday 11th July.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to be part of Code Ninjas and play such a vital role in spearheading the growth of the brand on British soil,鈥� said Jass Patel, who owns the centre with wife Reena.
鈥淲e both feel so passionately about Code Ninjas鈥� commitment to delivering quality coding education and are thrilled to have the opportunity to support that mission in our community.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in for a busy few months but can鈥檛 wait to make our mark on the state of children鈥檚 coding education in the UK.鈥�
Just one week later, Code Ninjas Pinner followed suit, launching on the 18th July. On the 22nd August, Code Ninjas Enfield welcomed budding ninjas from across Greater London. On the 24th August, a centre opened in the Hampshire town of Chandler鈥檚 Ford. Code Ninjas Langley, the first location to launch under the brand鈥檚 new Studio model, launched in Langley College on the 19th September.
Biraj Nakarja, one of the four franchisees behind Code Ninjas Langley, was over the moon to welcome students, parents, families and friends to their grand opening event.
鈥淒espite the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we still made the most of our launch party, inviting our community to help us celebrate our new business,鈥� said Biraj.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very proud and excited to bring the Code Ninjas programme to local children and, now that we鈥檙e open, are looking forward to making a real impact on the state of coding education in our area. We鈥檙e providing a service that is so in demand and fundamental for the future of the next generation.鈥�
Raman, Sital and Biraj
Along with the rest of his team – wife, Sital, and long-term friends, Raman and Karnvir Bath – Biraj plans to open a second location, in nearby Windsor, within the next year.
鈥淓ssentially, we鈥檙e establishing ourselves as the go-to providers for kids coding education across east Berkshire. Our first priority is to build momentum with our initial location before setting our sights on getting our second location off the ground. Although we definitely have to take the current economic climate into consideration, we feel confident in our ability to grow with the backing of the Code Ninjas team to guide us,鈥� said Biraj.
Despite the delays caused by the pandemic, the majority of the UK network have already made the initial steps towards opening a second location. Justin and the support team, based in Pearland, Texas, have been impressed by the network鈥檚 commitment to delivering the Code Ninjas curriculum at such a crucial time.
鈥淲ith a system of determined and passionate franchise owners and corporate staff that believe ardently in Code Ninjas鈥� mission, our work will result in better problem solving and critical-thinking skills for our ninjas. Building these STEM-related skillsets at a young age equips Code Ninjas鈥� students with valuable tools to navigate today鈥檚 increasingly tech-centric world.鈥�