Often, a first impression can be the difference when it comes to enrolling a family or hiring a new employee. It’s more than the impression you and your staff make. The immediate feeling they get from your Academy when they drive by or come in for a tour or interview could well be the deciding factor when it comes to enrolling a child or accepting a job offer.
Just like in real estate, in a competitive market, the properties with the most curb appeal get the most interest. And the more interest you can generate often equates to more enrollments and hires. Keeping your Academy clean and in good repair makes it more inviting for potential customers and employees and creates a pleasing environment for students, their families and your staff.
“Sometimes in owning a business we focus so much on our staff and customers, that we forget about focusing on the environment they’re in,” said Kiddie Academy Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Brazier. “Reinvestment into your Academy’s physical space displays a commitment to staff, students and families who come there every day. It gets them excited about being in a fresh, secure environment and helps engender a sense of pride in being at the Academy.”
In addition to creating a strong first impression, a recent article from Indeed.com says there are many other benefits arising from proper maintenance and upkeep of your workplace.
Among them are:
-It creates an effective use of space
-It establishes better control of tools and materials
-It exposes potential hazards
-It improves morale
The Academy’s’ physical environment can also have a positive affect student achievement. A study published in the journal Building and Environment found that factors such as cleanliness, fresh décor, good air quality and adequate lighting can increase student learning outcomes by 16%.
To help you ensure that your building keeps up appearances, the Kiddie Academy Facilities Maintenance Guide contains a Monthly Maintenance Reminder. The guide can be downloaded from the Manuals and Guides section of the KARES Library. The reminder contains a list of systems and upkeep issues to monitor on a daily, monthly and ongoing basis to ensure the Academy is clean, secure and in good condition. Daily checks include things like inspecting playground equipment and making sure landscaping is watered. Monthly tasks include checks of the HVAC system, plumbing, doors and windows. There are also items to be checked quarterly, seasonally and annually.
As the Kiddie Academy brand continues to grow, people expect a high level of quality in all that we do. And the eye-catching appearance and efficient functionality of Academies are among those expectations. Meeting – and exceeding – them helps keep the brand and your business healthy.
