SHIRAZ KIRMANIHead Consulting
“Have the ability to Change, go against the wind”
Mr. Shiraz Kirmani, often rated as the best school advisor in India to setup or open schools, serves as the driving force behind Erocon, fueled by a dream to establish a distinct advisory and consulting firm dedicated to creating benchmark schools throughout India. Initially involved in the coaching and training wing of the parent company, he successfully executed training projects across multiple Delhi public schools. Through this experience, he identified significant gaps in curriculum alignment with human resources, infrastructure compared to facilities, and quality standards versus the evolving educational landscape.
The concept of establishing a dedicated school consulting firm had been evolving in Mr. Shiraz Kirmani’s mind for 2–3 years before Erocon’s inception. Despite initial discouragement, he recognized a growing need for professional guidance in navigating the complexities of setting up schools in India. Realizing the changing landscape where the capital expenditure shifted from a traditional brick-by-brick model to a more strategic financial decision, Erocon was born to meet these emerging needs.
Erocon has emerged as the forefront school consulting and school architecture firm in India, boasting a portfolio with a net project value of 2800 crores under its comprehensive consulting and design services.
The Four Dot Theory
Mr. Shiraz Kirmani’s Four Dot Theory has become the cornerstone for establishing schools in India, simplifying the process into four essential elements: location, demand, fee potential, and financial viability. This theory emphasizes the critical connection between these dots to effectively plan a school project. For a project to be viable, it’s crucial that locations with demand also exhibit a sufficient fee potential to support pay scale salaries. Moreover, when both factors align, it’s essential to invest the right amount in infrastructure and land costs to ensure assured returns within 7-8 years, marking the payback period or break-even point. Favorable conditions in demand and fee potential necessitate a proportional allocation of capital expenditure towards fee, facility, and curriculum. Schools that adhere to these fundamental principles in their market entry strategy safeguard the financial interests of investors, corporations, and education groups.
The implementation of the Four Dot Theory has propelled Erocon to exponential success. Today, Erocon stands as the appointed advisor and market expansion agency for six of the top 10 education groups and five of the top 10 business houses in India, spanning CSR and private school projects. Beyond its prestigious client roster, Erocon has served over 791 clients, completed 107 turnkey projects, undertaken 121 architecture projects, and managed 179 affiliation projects.
Erocon is esteemed for its impartial guidance, unwavering adherence to delivery timelines, and a proven track record of achieving cost savings ranging from 25% to 30% on capital expenditure. With a robust word-of-mouth network built over three decades, Erocon continues to earn the trust and respect of stakeholders in the education sector.
Bio
With a B.Tech. in Computer Science and an MBA in International Business under his belt, Mr. Shiraz Kirmani brings over 20 years of rich experience in the K–12 education sector. Leading the Project Delivery Team, he orchestrates a comprehensive array of advisory services for school setup, including project planning, market entry strategy, brand positioning, legal compliance, and affiliation framework adherence. Mr. Kirmani’s journey began as a proficient math teacher, engaging in teacher training assignments across schools in India and the Middle East. His expertise in advanced combinatorics led him to serve as a guest faculty member at Marks Field Institute of Higher Education in the U.K. from 2006 to 2009, where he also co-authored the esteemed book “Magic of Numbers.”
Accolades
Under the leadership of Mr. Shiraz Kirmani, Erocon has bagged:
- Erocon was awarded at the House of Commons, London, UK, for being the most prominent school consulting firm of the year (K–12 schools) on May 11, 2023, by the Deputy Mayor of London.
- Architecture Team Awarded at the Asia Business Conclave held at Singapore for being the Most Prominent School Architecture Firm of the Year (K12 Schools) on January, 31, 2024 at Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore
- Mr. Shiraz Kirmani was awarded as one of the 45 brightest young minds in India under 45, featured by Forbes in 2021.
- Mr. Shiraz Kirmani was named one of the top 10 educational entrepreneurs of the year 2021-2022 by Indian Alert.
- Erocon was awarded the International Icons Award 2022″ for “K–12 School Consulting Firm of the Year.”
- Erocon was awarded the National Education Excellence Award 2021″ for “BEST SCHOOL CONSULTANTS OF THE YEAR”.
- Asia Education Summit 2022 for “The Best Architecture Firm Institutional of the Year”
- “National Architecture & Interior Design Excellence Awards 2021” for the Top and Most Innovative Architecture & Design Firm of the Year
- “The Meadows National Award 2019” for Best Green School Architecture Designs
- Education Excellence Award 2021 for “BEST K-12 SCHOOL CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR”.
