MARCH 2012
Help the economy and invest in a franchise
n Tens of thousands of people made redundant last year have the potential to play a crucial role in the economy by investing in a franchise – according to Rik Hellewel, business franchising specialist and founder of oven-cleaning franchise Ovenu.
Mr Hellewel suggests that by investing redundancy packages wisely people can start their own businesses without the challenges faced by individual start-up enterprises. From June to September last year, 147,000 were made redundant – up 2,000 on the same period in 2010. The average redundancy package, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, is around
£17,000 for public-sector workers and in the region of £8,000 for private-sector employees. An initial investment in a franchise can be as low as £5,000. According to the British Franchise Association’s 2011 survey, one in five new franchisees came from unemployment or had recently been made redundant. Mr Hellewel confirms that enquiries from redundancy candidates to his franchise operation, Ovenu, have been on the increase over the past 12 months. He said: “If more than 100,000
redundant people were able to successfully invest in a franchise they would become a new battalion for the private sector in the battle to grow the country’s economy.”
which will mean another 50 jobs for the local community over the next 12-18 months. In addition the company is actively looking to increase its number of private customers. Caremark Redcar & Cleveland offers
Caremark jobs boost
n As part of its expansion plans, a North Yorkshire home-care franchise is launching a new live-in care service that will provide around 50 jobs for the local community. Caremark Redcar and Cleveland,
providing home care to people across Teesside and North Yorkshire, was set up in November 2008 and in the last four years the business has grown from strength to strength. It now employs more than 60 staff and has moved to a larger office premises in Guisborough. Further expansion is expected with the launch of a new live-in care service,
care and support for older people as well as for individuals with physical disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities. Charles Folkes, director of Caremark Redcar and Cleveland, said: “I couldn’t have known when I started the business in 2008 that it would have grown so quickly from providing a few hundred hours of care per week to the current position of around 1,400 hours. “We are now targeting a figure of 3,000 hours over the next 12 months, and with the launch of our new Habito live-in service, we are further strengthening our offer by being able to provide care 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
“Our service is very person-centred and flexible, and is designed to meet customer needs. Our customers are given full input into the package of care we devise for them and we ensure they have a carer permanently dedicated to them. This model of care works very well and with the support of a highly experienced team of staff, we hope to be in a strong position to expand further in 2012.”
It could be you!
n Name: Alan Harrison Franchise: ComputerXplorers West Surrey
Alan Harrison left his career
in entertainment and consumer licensing in July 2011 to set up his ComputerXplorers franchise, teaching children ICT-based subjects. He now employs five teachers.
Started out: “I came across ComputerXplorers for the first time about 18 months ago when I started thinking about my career and possibly changing direction. At that time I decided to take up a job offer instead, but a year later I got back in touch and took the plunge to run my own ComputerXplorers franchise. I’m so glad I did! It ticks a number of boxes for me. The market for children-orientated franchises is huge and I think being involved in new technologies is future-proof. It also helps that I have a personal interest in technology. The way that the commercial model for ComputerXplorers works also appealed strongly to me and being happy with the financial side of the business has to be a main consideration.”
Today:
“I’m ahead of my business plan so I’m really pleased. I’m absolutely loving the responsibility of running my own business. With ComputerXplorers everything is thought through. The start-up pack is comprehensive and the course curriculums really do deliver what they promise. The children get to do stuff they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to like creating their own video games or movies, and they learn how to do it properly.”
To find out more visit
www.computerxplorers.co.uk
March 2012 |
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