Special Feature Aspray
the ability to multi-task and using effective communication and negotiation skills. My legal background also helped me grasp the insurance principles easily. These skills have proved invaluable especially when dealing with clients, loss adjusters and contractors.
S
ati Shekhon has been running Aspray Birmingham South since November 2013. Aspray
franchisees project manage property damage insurance claims throughout the assessment process in a work-from-home environment. Franchisees not only liaise directly with the insurer, helping policy holders achieve a fair settlement, but also ensure that repairs are completed to the highest standard.
What did you do before you began running your franchise business? Prior to franchising, I was a solicitor specialising in property law before moving on to project management.
How did you come to invest in a franchise, and why Aspray in particular?
I started out as an employee of the previous owners of the Birmingham South franchise in 2012 so was fortunate enough to gain an insight and understanding of the business before making any financial commitment to take on the franchise. This gave me a great foundation and the confidence to start up on my own. When the opportunity arose to take over the Aspray Birmingham South territory, it felt like a natural step in my career and I was attracted to the idea of working for myself and being in control of my future.
How does your previous experience help in the running of your franchise? I was initially attracted to Aspray as I was able to transfer a lot of skills from my previous work experience around property management, compliance and client care. A lot of this experience also involved working in highly pressurised environments,
How are you finding being a woman in a male-dominated industry? As female, do you experience any difficulties? Although being a minority in any environment can be a challenge, I can honestly say that being the only female owner of an Aspray franchise has never put me at any disadvantage. My previous experiences have helped me succeed and I have built relationships that have proved imperative for my franchise to thrive ; I think this would be no different if I was a man. I embrace the challenge of working in a male-dominated industry and feel this actually gains me more respect from my male peers when I meet them out in the field.
“Women often have to juggle a career with being a homemaker and mother – by starting your own business, you are in the driving seat”
How has your life changed since investing in an Aspray franchise? Do you have a good work-life balance? I have a greater sense of job satisfaction and after years of working long, unsociable hours in an office and bringing work home, I have finally achieved what I wanted, which was a good work-life balance and to be in a position where I can manage my own diary. As with any business, you get out what you put in, so if you want to build your operation into million-pound turnover, you work that much harder. You’re in control of your own level of success.
What is the training and support like? The training is readily available at head office and the network is kept updated on the latest industry courses available through the British Damage Management Association. All franchisees have access to online training tools that you can tailor to your own individual training needs and we also receive regular technical papers that help with our understanding of insurance principles and are produced from feedback
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from the network. Regular regional meetings keep the network up to date on developments within the business.
Describe a typical day.
A typical day consists of meetings with clients to assess damage to properties, and with loss adjusters to review and negotiate claims, passing through ongoing jobs to check progress of works and then back to the office to work through emails, calls and catch up on general administration and any follow-up tasks from the day. It’s a nice balance of being out on the road and based in the office.
What qualities do you feel are important in order to achieve success as a franchisee? With franchising, you are buying into a tried-and-tested business model that has been proven successful and therefore half the battle has been overcome. This does not mean, however, that all the hard work has been done, as it is still the drive and motivation of the franchisee that builds and grows their business. Not every door is open for you but you need to be resilient and push yourself out of your comfort zone to gain new business. Retaining business is also key, and means maintaining good relationships with all those around you that refer you work.
What advice would you give to women considering a franchise? Don’t be afraid to take on the challenge! I think starting off with a franchise business is great as there is less risk of failing. Women often have to juggle careers with being good homemakers and mothers – for this reason they may not get the same opportunities or salaries as men who til recently have traditionally been deemed the breadwinners. By starting your own business, you are in the driving seat and have the control to shape your work-life balance and your earning potential.
What are your plans for the future? It is a very exciting time to be part of the Aspray franchise. We have a team of people dedicated to developing the business and there are some great corporate clients coming on board that will increase our business overall. At present I handle all aspects of the franchise myself, which can prove challenging, but as my workload continues to increase I aim to have a team of my own that can offer clerical support and also deal with sales and marketing. This will free up time for me to do more networking in my territory and continue to grow my business.
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