It’s one thing hearing from us about what we do and how we support our franchisees, but it’s just as valuable to hear directly from those living the experience day-to-day.
We recently sat down with Amanda Penny, who has been an integral part of the Banana Moon network for over a decade. Starting her journey at Banana Moon Dyce and progressing to Operational Director, Amanda has played a key role in the growth of Banana Moon nurseries across Scotland. Let’s take a closer look at her journey.
From Manager to Director
Amanda had already built a strong foundation in childcare before Banana Moon Dyce opened its doors. After working in several nursery settings and as a nanny, she met Will, who ultimately became the owner of the Dyce setting, in 2010. When he shared his plans to open a nursery with Banana Moon, Amanda quickly bought into the vision.
In September 2015, Amanda joined Banana Moon Dyce as Deputy Manager ahead of the nursery’s opening the following month – an exciting milestone as it was the first Banana Moon nursery in Scotland.
Reflecting on this time, Amanda said: “Those early days were incredibly hands-on. I was involved in everything from meetings with the Care Inspectorate and health and safety preparations to helping with the physical set-up of the nursery. It really felt like we were building something from the ground up.
“Very shortly after opening, our original Manager went on maternity leave and later relocated overseas, so I stepped into the role of Acting Manager before becoming the Nursery Manager permanently towards the end of 2015.”
For almost a decade, Amanda led the nursery while witnessing the Banana Moon network expand across Scotland. In 2022, her role grew further as she began providing additional support to other Scottish nurseries. By March 2025, Amanda had become Operational Director, allowing her to focus on supporting multiple settings, Managers and the continued development of the network.
Looking back on her journey, she reflects: “It has been a journey of learning, resilience and growth. What makes it particularly special to me is that I have been part of the entire journey – from helping prepare the nursery before it opened, to managing the setting for many years and now supporting multiple nurseries as Operational Director. Seeing how far we have come, from opening our very first nursery to building a strong network of settings across Scotland, is something I feel incredibly proud of.”
Growing within the Banana Moon franchise network
Amanda’s progression highlights the value of being part of a franchise network. In her own words: “Being part of a franchise means you are never navigating challenges alone, and there is always someone you can reach out to for advice, guidance or simply to talk things through.”
Over the years Amanda has helped guide nurseries through periods of growth, collaboration and even significant challenges such as the Covid pandemic, when communication was vital for support.
Operating across different regions also brings unique challenges, particularly as England, Scotland and Wales all have different early years regulations. Amanda explains that having the backing of the franchise network makes navigating these differences much easier: “Beyond operational support, the franchise also provides strong guidance around policies, documentation, training and mentoring, which allows us to focus more on developing our teams and delivering high-quality care.”
The appeal of Banana Moon Franchise
When Amanda and Will first discussed opening a nursery, neither had experience launching a setting from scratch. Banana Moon Franchise helped to provide the structure and reassurance they needed: “Knowing there was a network behind us to guide us through registration, policies and operational processes gave us the confidence to move forward.”
With the promise of years of continued support, the strength of the Banana Moon network and the ethos behind the brand stood out when Amanda and Will were looking for the best franchise opportunities in the UK. Amanda reflects on this, saying: “Banana Moon genuinely believe in what they do. The focus is not just on business growth, but on supporting the children, families, staff teams and directors across the entire network.”
Advantages of becoming a younger Franchise Director
Amanda also represents a growing number of younger Franchise Directors embracing franchising. Becoming a Director earlier in her career allowed her to bring energy, ambition and long-term vision to the business.
She began her childcare journey in 2009, working her way through qualifications from Level 2 onwards while continuing to develop her leadership skills: “This has never simply been a job for me; it’s a career I care deeply about. That commitment to learning has stayed with me throughout my journey.”
Her experience as a Nursery Manager also gave her valuable insight into the daily challenges teams face, which now helps her support Managers across multiple settings.
Advice for aspiring Directors
Amanda’s advice for anyone considering a leadership role in the sector includes:
- Stay open to learning and development – every challenge helps build leadership skills.
- Take opportunities outside your comfort zone.
- Build strong teams and listen to those around you.
- Remember progression is possible – Amanda began her career working directly with children.
- Maintain a growth mindset and keep looking for ways to improve.
Navigating and overcoming challenges
After more than 10 years with Banana Moon, Amanda acknowledges that challenges are inevitable in business, but that each “has played a role in shaping my development as a leader”.
One of the biggest learning curves came as the organisation expanded from one nursery to multiple settings: “As the organisation expanded, my role evolved from focusing on the day-to-day management of one nursery to supporting several Managers across different settings.”
Amanda also recalls how early regulatory challenges felt daunting at the time but ultimately became valuable learning experiences that strengthened her leadership skills and better equipped her to help the wider network. She concludes: “Being able to talk things through, gain perspective and learn from others has helped me continue to grow.”
Be inspired – franchise with Banana Moon
Amanda’s journey demonstrates what’s possible within the Banana Moon network – from hands-on beginnings to leading and supporting multiple nurseries.
If Amanda’s story has inspired you to explore franchising, start the conversation with us today. Take our Franchise Flight Check, learn more about the opportunity and discover how you could begin your own Banana Moon journey. Find out more and get in touch with us here.
