Supported by 
Franchisee Gary Rolfe of Merry Maids
Impeccable service and crisis management come naturally to Gary Rolfe, so it’s hardly surprising that the owner of Merry Maids in Kingston-Upon Thames has won a major award in the middle of a pandemic. Despite everything that lockdowns, social distancing, and ever-changing regulations could throw at him, the cleaning company boss has emerged as one of the first recipients of the prestigious Great British Franchisee Award.
of UK Business Mentoring
Anne Williams journey from franchising to running her own business started with an itch.
The itch was a sense of frustration in her previous role in corporate life. For years she had thought ‘There must be something else for me’, something that would give her satisfaction and a sense of purpose.
Here’s how Anne scratched that itch….
Franchisee Jim Gorrie of UK Business Mentoring
UK Business Mentoring franchisee jim Gorrie talks about how redundancy pushed him into starting a new career in his late 50's. "I still remember the day, place and time I got told my services were no longer required. I remember the shock, the anger, the feeling of loss - after forty years in the corporate world (thirty-five years with one organisation and nearly five with another) I was being cast aside. On reflection I know this wasn’t the case, but I am only human, and I can still recall the irrational range of thoughts and emotions running through my head. As it turned out, it was one of the best things that has happened to me."
of noRelatedFranchisor
From a young age, Ash Obhrai had been surrounded by educators. With his father as a GCSE Maths examiner, mother as an A-Level Art & Design teacher and aunt as a successful primary school teacher, it was only a matter of time before he too would venture into academia. After working as a tutor alongside his corporate career for 15 years, he decided to turn the tables and launch his own Tutor Doctor business in 2017.
Franchisee Gary Swan of Metro Plumb
Gary Swan is a plumber by trade but wanting to become more than a jobbing plumber where he relied on being sub-contracted to others for work, he began to research opportunities that gave him more structure, stability, long-term planning and control over his work. This led him to franchising and after researching the opportunities available, he was keen to find out more about Metro Plumb. His decision to join Metro Plumb has paid off in the past year. Whilst many self-employed plumbers have become victims to the Covid pandemic, Metro Plumb Kent has seen an increase in business due to the robust franchise model and key accounts the company has. Gary is looking forward to his future with Metro Plumb.
of Revive! Auto Innovations
When technician Paul Morris turned up eight years ago to repair a customer’s car bumper little did they both know how life-changing the visit would turn out be.
It was love at first sight. Now the couple have two sons and are planning a wedding in summer 2022. They’ve also gone into business together, becoming the new owners of Revive! Birmingham North following its re-sale. Paul is managing the business day to day and Leanne with her background in financial services is managing the finances and marketing.
of Just Shutters
When made redundant for a second time, Simon Broadhurst decided to get out of the media rat race in London and find a career that offered a better work life balance. Appreciating the benefits of franchising, Simon and his wife Gina began to research opportunities in their local area. Just Shutters was one franchise that came up in their search and after investigating the opportunity and industry further, they quickly knew it was not only a franchise they could be passionate about, but it was one with longevity and brand appeal. In this article we hear about Simon and Gina’s journey to owning their Just Shutters franchise in Surrey as well as the ambitious growth plan they have for their business.
of Minuteman Press
Working as a graphic designer and photographer with a commercial photography studio, Russ Cowper reached a crossroads and was ready to become his own boss. He has taken over the established Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing franchise in Manchester City Centre and has a simple yet effective message for his numerous B2B clients: “We print anything. If you can print it, we can do it.”
of Just Shutters
After spending 23 years in various positions across the retail industry, Paul Wells decided it was time for a change. Wanting to become self-employed with a company that matched his skill set, Just Shutters stood out as the best opportunity. Everything from the brand, the franchise system and the support network matched what Paul was looking for and his business has been growing ever since! Learn about how Paul and his wife Lisa transitioned to franchising with Just Shutters...
of UK Business Mentoring
Chris May has been a UK Business Mentoring franchisee since 2016. Chris has been very successful and it is interesting to understand how that has been achieved. It is clear that a big part of this success has been down to the franchise he bought, UK Business Mentoring, and the training and support he has received. Learn more about Chris' journey to success with UK Business Mentoring in this interview...
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