Resolutions from new faces at Code Ninjas

Kids coding franchise, Code Ninjas, has experienced a tremendous level of rapid growth since launching in the UK almost two years ago. As a testament to its success, the brand is expanding its franchise support team for the third time in as little as six weeks. In celebration of their fifth year in franchising, Justin Nihiser, CEO, looks forward to 2021 and is proud to make a commitment to his network of 335 franchisees across three countries.

“Somehow, it’s already 2021 and we’re planning for the plethora of events and celebrations to mark five years since Code Ninjas launched back in August 2016. We’re hopeful that by the summer, restrictions in the UK, as well as the US and Canada, will have lifted so that our franchise network can come together in some way and mark this momentous occasion. Last year, approximately half of UK businesses experienced a decrease in turnover1, but our 10 launched locations have all been persistent in their efforts to continue to increase their enrolments and revenue, and it has shown.

“In the coming year, we’re taking Code Ninjas to new heights, by maximising every potential opportunity for growth. I guess you could say my New Year’s Resolution would be to never settle for the status quo and ensure our team are reaching not only their own potential but our collective potential as a network, too. I’m proud to welcome equally determined and passionate individuals to our support team, who will no doubt bolster this endeavour.”

Experienced franchising professional, John Kutac, joins the fold after a number of years fronting some of the most well-respected food and beverage franchises in the US, most recently as President for the Colorado-based beer restaurant concept, Growler USA. Prior to that role, John was COO of wellness company, WellBiz Brands Inc, managing partner of Brinker International and an executive at Clear Choice Dental Implants. As Vice President of Franchise Operations for Code Ninjas, John will be instrumental in developing the brand’s existing franchise model to facilitate the growth Justin and the team are striving for in 2021.

"Joining a franchise like Code Ninjas, that not only serves our communities by getting our kids involved in coding but also has been growing even in this tough time of COVID-19, is quite inspiring," shared John. "Even only being with the team for a few weeks has shown me how much passion our franchisees have for this company and what I can help to build up to ensure that this franchise continues to grow in the right direction."

Jamie Handy also joins Justin, John and the rest of the support staff, as Director of Training. Jamie, who comes from a STEM and secondary education background, has over seven years of experience training, coaching and developing instructors to teach students. Along with training and developing, she has also written science curriculum for the USA 's seventh largest school district. She has been published for her insight on improving onboarding and training systems in urban school districts, recommendations for working with millennials toward professional growth and, most recently, fostering relational-collaborative learning communities in an online setting. Additionally, Jamie is passionate about children’s learning and understands the need of teaching every kid to code and its valuable contribution to college and career readiness – something she will be championing in 2021 and beyond.

“I am excited to be a part of the Code Ninjas family and am working diligently with several departments to implement a robust training programme. Components include asynchronous coursework and synchronous instructor lead training which benefit our system from the owners to their ninjas themselves,” explained Jamie. “Introducing just a few new systems such as an LMS are going to make on-going developments aspects of Code Ninjas the best in the franchise business.”

For more information about Code Ninjas and their franchising opportunities, visit www.codeninjasfranchise.co.uk

1 Office for National Statistics, December 2020, Business insights and impacts on the UK.

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Notes to Editors

For more information or to speak with Justin Nihiser, John Kutac or Jamie Handy, contact Kelly Ayres at Rev PR on 07895 876745 or email kelly@revpr.co.uk
Image available – A hi-res photo of John Kutac.


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About Code Ninjas

Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas® is the world’s largest and fastest-growing kids coding franchise, with more than 220 locations open across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. At Code Ninjas, kids learn to code while building their own video games. They gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Kids have fun, parents see results®. For more information, visit codeninjas.com.