Use your skills to drive you in an exciting new direction
Changing your career can be daunting, but it can be easier with a franchise. Most franchisors do not expect new franchisees to have experience in their sector.
Lisa hughes worked at a mobile phone company and in a financial support role before setting up in business as the Driver hire recruitment franchisee in Birmingham.
‘ The customer retention and development skills i gained as an account manager transferred well to the franchise, as did my finance experience and tenacity,’ says Lisa.
‘however, when i started i didn’t know a class one hgV from a sevenand-a-half ton truck. That’s where i benefited from Driver hire’s knowledge of the sector, including the regulations about drivers’ hours and the recruitment business.
‘as well as support from head office, i have learned from other franchisees in the network, our driver trainers and our drivers.’
Lisa, 50, adds: ‘Changing career is always a leap of faith, but with a franchise you get a franchisor and other franchisees to help you.’
graham Duckworth, franchise sales director at Driver hire, says: ‘We value the skills career changers bring as new franchisees, and to complement them, we provide support and advice on all aspects of the business.’ Franchise investment starts at £32,000.
Calum gray, a former military bandmaster and director of music, is the Caremark home care franchisee in Winchester, hampshire.
Calum says: ‘Skills from my military career helped, as you need good organisation and must be comfortable engaging with all sorts of people. Being able to deal with different challenges is also vital, but military life prepared me for that. The skilled guidance from my regional development manager and access to the skills of Caremark’s head office team was invaluable in the early days of my business.’
Caremark franchise director David glover says: ‘Caremark franchisees come from all walks of life, but all share a passion for the industry and the desire make a difference in people’s lives while building their own successful business.’ DRIVER Hire, 01274 361 073; Caremark, 01903 266392.