Franchise Focus
John and Jane Perry (left) pictured with Bluebird Care Directors Simon Dalziel and Lisa and Paul Tarsey
Focus on Success
John and Jane Perry, of Bluebird Care Edinburgh, see a clear future with their franchise
INVESTMENT LEVEL: £32,500
for quality of care along with a number of Bluebird Care awards, including the recent Franchise of the Year 2011.
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Based in Edinburgh, their business boasts almost £2 million in annual turnover. “We did a lot of research,” said Jane. “It was obvious from the ageing population that there was a market opportunity in care. We looked at several care franchise companies but were really impressed on meeting with Simon Dalziel and Paul Tarsey, directors of Bluebird Care, and the decision to join the network just seemed right to us. We loved the business model, and the support that the company offered. Having sought care for a family member, we knew about the poor standards of care in the market and how important it is to offer great customer service. We’re pleased to say that our business is thriving, and we now have a great core team of 120 care workers working for our Edinburgh office. The job satisfaction comes from knowing you are making a difference; putting a smile on customers’ faces and receiving some
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ince opening the first Scottish Bluebird Care office in January 2008, John and Jane Perry’s business has gone from strength to strength. They have won a string of Scottish Care awards
great feedback. We’re looking ahead to more success in 2012, building our customer base and growing the business.” John and Jane’s backgrounds were not in the sector – John originally worked in sales while Jane worked as an accountant. After facing a series of redundancies in their careers, their decision to explore options for starting their own business has really paid off and they have used their
“I do feel part of an extensive brand with all the benefits that a national network provides”
work experience and expertise to find an opportunity in a recession-resilient sector. Annetta Doyle, Bluebird Care’s franchise
recruitment manager, says: “We are delighted with the progress Jane and John have made. They are great ambassadors for the brand, possessing empathy and a strong belief that everyone has a right to high-quality care, as well as having business and people management skills”
Back in 2007, Craig Adamson was living in Mauritius, running an internet-based IT business. With the desire to return to the UK, Craig started looking for his next opportunity. He knew that the care market was a rapidly expanding sector in the UK. He says: ‘‘My wife and I enjoyed life as part of a large extended family in Mauritius which is very much the norm. All older people, disabled people and children are cared for by all members of the family; therefore there is no demand for care at home and very few residential care homes. Of course, Mauritius is a small island. Consequently, relatives are never physically very far away. We do not have that extended family culture in the UK any longer and the issue of caring for family is often compounded because families tend to live so far apart these days.”
Craig visited the British Franchise Exhibition in Manchester last year and, having met several care franchisors, the Bluebird Care opportunity stood out. “When I met the Bluebird Care team it was very clear from the start that they knew their market and had a fantastic franchise model. I was confident that they would be able to support me to build a successful business.” Bluebird Care provides a necessary service to those that want to stay in their own home. “Not only does it allow people of all ages to live safely in their own home, Bluebird Care also provides peace of mind for relatives who may live too far away to visit regularly,” says Craig. With reduced spend on care and cuts in local authority funding, coupled with an ageing population, the market for care has increased enormously. Recent figures put the UK market value at £54 billion a year, with many preferring to receive care in their own home rather than the cost of moving into a residential home. It is early days for Craig as 2012 is his first trading year in Sefton, near Liverpool, yet he has a detailed plan for his business, “I have had exceptional support already from my business development manager and we have a clear way ahead in terms of where I want to be and how I am going to get there,” he enthuses. “Bluebird Care now has offices all over the UK,” he continues, “so I do feel part of an extensive brand with all the benefits that a national network provides. My territory is exclusive and I’ve got access to plenty of training in order to get my head around the necessary care policies and procedures one needs to be aware of.” n
BLUEBIRD CARE
WEBSITE:
www.bluebirdcare.co.uk EMAIL:
franchises@bluebirdcare.co.uk PHONE: 01730 260 026 CLASSIFICATION: Care Services
Investment: £20k-£50k
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