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Posted:13-January-2021

Exclusive Interview: Former Royal Navy commander takes on new challenge

Name: Giles Collighan
Location: Manchester
Franchise: ERA

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background in the armed forces.

I spent 23 years in the Royal Navy before deciding to take voluntary redundancy.

Where did you first hear about franchising? Was there a particular reason why you decided to buy a franchise?

After 23 years in the Navy I wanted to try something different. I wanted a career that allowed me to be my own boss whilst giving me a better work- life balance; I wanted my work schedule to fit in with the rest of the family as well as allowing me time off to do activities I enjoy.

I’ve never considered myself as particularly entrepreneurial, so franchising with its tried and tested systems really appealed to me.

What research did you undertake? And why did you choose ERA franchise?

I did a lot of research! I made sure I knew what to expect from a good franchisor and what I should get for my money e.g. what ongoing business support do you offer and what does it entail, and what do you cover in your training programme and how long does it last; this is particularly important if you are going into an area where you have limited experience.

A good franchisor will give you access to their entire network and so I was able to meet franchisees with a variety of experience including new joiners and people who have been doing it for a couple of years. This is a very important aspect of your research as you will find out a lot about the franchise from them. If the franchisor won’t give you contact details, treat that as a warning sign.

Each time, ERA ticked the boxes. It offered the best combination of potential earnings, ability to work from home, proven business model, on-going business support and supportive franchisee network.

How did you raise the finance to fund your franchise?

I was fortunate to leave the Forces under voluntary redundancy scheme and so I financed my franchise from the lump sum I received as part of that.

Many ex-servicemen and women go into franchising; why do you think this is?

Our social skills in the Navy are well developed and so I’m naturally able to network and present myself which helps me to win new clients for my ERA business.

I did the Advanced Management Achievement course (AMAC) at Manchester Business School, which was really useful in highlighting how to utilise the skills I had learnt in the Royal Navy in a business environment. I approached sales meeting in a similar fashion as to how I would brief a senior officer or present a Forces business case.

How did you find the transition from being on a salary to being self-employed?

As I left the Navy under the voluntary redundancy programme, I was mentally ready for a new challenge and so I didn’t have any major issues with the transition.

The biggest challenge however was losing the instantly available social network, but I can say that because ERA has a lively franchisee network (with a few ex-services members) as well as a pro-active group office – there’s a golf society, annual charity events, a programme of social events and a quarterly conference, I have rebuilt a close network.

What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?

There is no typical day, but my time is split between the business marketing and planning which I do from home, and getting on the road for sales and client relationship meetings. Of course, I plan my own programme so can easily fit it around my family life and other commitments.

What challenges have you had to overcome as a franchisee?

Without a ready-made business network to fall back on, it has taken longer than I expected to achieve reasonable levels of income and you need to be able to sustain yourself financially for at least 18 months while you build your business.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so, how?

Undoubtedly. I now have the freedom to control my own time; I work when I want and how I want. Obviously, that doesn’t mean you don’t work hard as like any business, you will only get out what you put in. However, if I wish to go sailing one afternoon, I can work in the evening or the weekend to catch-up.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?

First and foremost, you have to believe in the business proposition and be prepared to follow the process laid down by the Franchisor. It’s difficult to sell something you don’t believe in and the process and the fact that it has worked for others is really what you are buying when you pay your Franchise Fee. After that, you have to be prepared to work hard – buying a franchise does not automatically mean you have bought success. Finally. You have to be prepared to network with other franchisees to learn what works and what doesn’t.

Would you recommend franchising to other ex-servicemen or women? And what’s your reason for this?

From my own experience, yes I would definitely. Franchising enables you to take a different path under your own control while still having a level of support behind you.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking of buying a franchise, what would it be?

I think the best piece of advice I had was not to look upon buying a franchise as buying a job. The success or failure of the business will lie solely with you and how hard you work. Owning a franchise de-risks the venture slightly in that you have ongoing support, but the effort and still lies with you.

What are your plans for the future?

My primary aim is to continue to build my business within ERA. I’ve got off to a reasonable start and am now starting to see some tangible results while really enjoying what I’m doing.

Would you do it again?

Yes I think I would. I’ve learnt a lot about business in general and specifically how to run my own company, all with business and marketing support from the Franchise Group Office, from which I’ve gained confidence to take other outside business interests. I’ve made lots of mistakes, but being within a franchise means there is always someone in the network who can help!

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