From Holiday Clubs to International Franchising – How Abbie White Built Love Science with Purpose and Practicality

Many children’s activity businesses don’t start with a grand master plan. They begin because someone spots a gap, needs flexibility, or simply wants to create something meaningful for families. Over time, those small beginnings can evolve into something much bigger.

That was exactly the case for Abbie White, Founder of Love Science, whose journey from running local holiday clubs to building a multi-region franchise is a powerful example of what happens when purpose meets practical decision-making.

Love Science now delivers hands-on science experiences to nursery and primary-aged children across the UK and internationally. But it didn’t start as a franchise vision. It started as a way to make life work.

A business born from necessity

Abbie’s background was in secondary science teaching, a career she genuinely loved. However, after relocating to Scotland and navigating significant family responsibilities, returning to the classroom wasn’t straightforward. While waiting for paperwork to process, she began running holiday science clubs in local community spaces.

What followed was unexpected.

“It was a total surprise to me,” she explains. “It took off more than I thought.”

In rural communities, structured children’s activities were limited. Families were looking for engaging sessions beyond sports clubs and traditional playgroups. Abbie’s practical science experiences filled that gap quickly.

What began as a short-term solution soon became a long-term opportunity.

Spotting opportunity in rural communities

One of the most interesting aspects of Abbie’s journey is her experience operating in rural areas. While many large providers concentrate on cities and densely populated towns, rural regions often have fewer options for families.

Abbie recognised that although delivery required more travel and logistical planning, demand was strong and competition was lower. Families were willing to commit when they found high-quality provision.

Her experience highlights an important growth lesson: opportunity isn’t always where everyone else is looking. Sometimes success comes from serving communities others overlook.

The moment everything shifted

As Love Science grew, Abbie reached a crossroads. She could return to teaching or commit fully to building the business. She chose the latter.

But growth brought new challenges, particularly around leadership.

Like many founders, Abbie loved delivery. Being in front of children, running experiments and seeing their excitement was the reason she started. However, stepping into leadership meant gradually letting go of regular teaching.

She describes that transition honestly: “I would say I’m still doing that. I still find myself falling into it.”

The turning point came when someone asked her a simple but powerful question:

“Are you building a job or are you building a business?”

That question reframed everything.

Remaining in delivery felt comfortable, but it limited growth. If Love Science was going to expand through franchising, Abbie needed to think beyond her own timetable and focus on systems, teams and long-term structure.

Building a franchise during uncertain times

Love Science began franchising just before the pandemic, creating unexpected challenges for the young network. Despite the disruption, the model proved resilient and franchisees returned stronger once restrictions eased.

Abbie’s experience reinforced a critical lesson for founders: growth is rarely linear. External circumstances will create setbacks, but businesses built on strong foundations can adapt and recover.

Her early franchise journey also highlighted the importance of having the right people in place. Starting with a trusted team member who already understood the brand made expansion smoother and strengthened the culture of the network.

Purpose is powerful, but practicality sustains

Children’s activity businesses are deeply purpose-driven. Providers want to create memorable experiences, support development and build confidence. However, Abbie has seen firsthand that passion alone is not enough to sustain a business.

She regularly supports franchisees through common challenges such as underpricing, over-delivering and underestimating the importance of marketing.

As she puts it:

“You can’t continue to offer that great service if you’re not making any money.”

This balance between heart and structure is what allows children’s activity businesses to thrive long term. Purpose gives the work meaning, but practical decision-making keeps the doors open.

A founder’s perspective as a Class Business Awards judge

As one of this year’s Class Business Awards judges, Abbie brings a grounded and thoughtful perspective to reviewing applications. She understands the realities of running a children’s business while trying to build something sustainable.

She isn’t simply looking for energetic sessions or popular programmes. She wants to see businesses that clearly understand their impact and their long-term direction.

For Abbie, standout businesses combine vision with viability. They know why they exist and how they will continue serving families for years to come.

Growing beyond yourself

One of the most relatable themes from Abbie’s story is the tension founders feel between loving delivery and wanting growth. Teaching brings immediate joy, while leadership requires long-term thinking.

Abbie acknowledges this internal push and pull but recognises that stepping back from delivery allows others to carry the mission forward.

It’s about creating a business that doesn’t rely on one person’s time and energy.

It’s about building something bigger than yourself.

Watch the full interview

Abbie’s journey is honest, practical and deeply relatable for anyone running a children’s activity business. Her story highlights the realities of growth, the importance of mindset shifts and the value of balancing purpose with sustainability.

🎧 Watch the full interview with Abbie White here.