ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
AWARD-WINNING
LORDSWOOD DANCECENTRE
NICOLA MAYNARD STARTED DANCING AT LORDSWOOD DANCECENTRE WHEN SHE WAS JUST FIVE YEARS OLD . A YOUNG PRODIGY , NICOLA HAD NOT ONLY FOUND A PASSION AND INTENSE LOVE FOR MOVEMENT , SHE HAD ALSO UNWITTINGLY STARTED A LIFELONG JOURNEY TOWARDS OWNING HER OWN BUSINESS . AFTER STUDYING DANCE AT COLLEGE , NICOLA STARTED HER FIRST CAREER IN QUALITY ASSURANCE AND VEERED AWAY FROM DANCE . BUT AFTER BEING MADE REDUNDANT WHICH COINCIDED WITH A DESTINY-DRIVEN COINCIDENCE , NICOLA DISCOVERED THAT HER CHILDHOOD DANCE SCHOOL WAS ON THE MARKET , SO SHE DECIDED TO JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO OWN HER FORMER SCHOOL AND POUR HER HEART INTO THIS BRAND NEW BUSINESS VENTURE .
The grand opening of Lordswood Dancecentre was held on 1st March 2020 , and within just three weeks , the school was forced to close due to Covid . A horrifically difficult start for a small business , Nicola felt helpless , and at a loss with what to do : “ I didn ' t know how many students would come back afterwards or how I was going to find the money to cover the large rent I had just taken on .” But after securing council funding to help keep the school afloat , Nicola could relax a little and her mind began to wander onto other business ventures . Namely the vacant shop next door , and when inspiration struck for a community focused coffee shop dedicated to serving the people of Lordswood the best coffee and cakes in town , there really was no stopping her . Tea for Tutu was born in the 2021 lockdown , and so all Nicola could do was wait for restrictions to be lifted and hope the community would rally around her infant businesses .
Luckily , she needn ’ t have worried : “ When we came out of lockdown and we were able to reopen , the dance school just took off . In our first four weeks back we gained 60 new students .” Tea for Tutu was doing equally well , as people desperate for a good chat flocked to the shop more than ready to embrace Nicola and her business endeavours . Now at a staggering 200 students , the dance school is thriving under Nicola ’ s direction and business is booming at Tea for Tutu . Nicola told us about what her goals are for each business : “ My main goal is community . I like to include everyone and I do not like anyone left out .” After exceeding her goals in such a short time , Nicola is loving her newfound life as her own boss as it provides the freedom that she had always wanted from her career . Freedom to spend time with her family , the freedom to grow her business how she sees fit , and the freedom to allow the students of her dance school to grow and find their passion .
Having recently won the Business Women of the Year Award at the prestigious Kent Women in Business Awards ceremony , we asked Nicola how this recognition of her incredible work has made her feel . “ Very proud ,” she said . “ Parents of my students kept saying how much they like it as it sets an example to the students and shows the determination and resilience of what I do .” Nicola has found such success with her twin businesses , we asked her if she had any advice for others looking to break into the business world and though modest as ever , she answered : “ I was told when I was made redundant and assessing my options to ‘ take the risk - what have you got to lose ’ and I have stuck by that the last few years . We never lose or fail , we only learn , and being a business owner has taught me that .”
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