Inside Story The lowdown...
...on Gas-elec with franchise director Carol Otway who gives an insight into the brand’s two decades of success
Darren Leonard, franchisee in Torquay
Carol Otway
Gas-elec was launched in 1996. How has the company grown since then? Very well. We are one of the more established UK franchise networks with 103 franchisees, including one who has been with us since day one. We are a Full Member of the British Franchise Association.
Why did the company choose the franchising route? In the words of our founder and managing director John Davidson: getting people to directly invest in their own futures is a great way to grow a business.
What do franchisees get in return for their investment? What kind of training and support do you off er? Well, training is minimal because on the gas side, guys need to already have CCN1 and appliances. If they want to invest in an electrical franchise, they need 17th Edition City and Guilds and 2394/5 and, ideally, be time-served electricians. This somewhat shrinks the pool we fi sh in!
That said, engineers still have to be trained on our procedures when carrying out safety inspections and get training on our IT system, in customer services, business administration and accounts. They also go on site with other franchisees.
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Businessfranchise.com | March 2015
The support we provide is huge. In fact, we think it is the bedrock of our success. 10 people work in our operations offi ce in Sunningdale, and 10 in our head offi ce near Heathrow where, collectively, they have 84 years of service in the company. Their expertise stretches to: IT, gas and electrical technical know-how and auditing and customer services. In addition, we have a bureau facility that collects in monies, performs credit control and sets credit limits for clients on behalf of franchisees, and also pays franchisees twice a month upon receipts from customers.
Meanwhile, our investment fee of £16,500 plus vat has not risen in 10 years. Equipment costs from £3,300 plus vat and includes a laptop, gas and / or electrical testers, a full kit of tools, uniform and livery for their van. Engineers are responsible for providing the van and a mobile phone.
What makes your brand unique? Our two-tier franchise system is certainly unique. We have one tier of franchisees looking after sales and marketing, 15 regional offi ces that provide the engineers in their postcodes with their work on a daily basis. The second tier, the engineers, carry out the safety inspections and repairs.
Since 1996, we have enjoyed year-
on-year growth and provided services to more than one million customers. And just this week, for example, I renewed the franchises of seven engineers for further fi ve-year terms, so we must be doing something right!
What are you looking for in the ideal franchisee? You need to be hungry for success, to really want to run and promote your own business, but, equally, you need to be able to listen to advice from the franchisor and experts in the business and follow our business model. If you are joining our team, you are investing in our established and ethical brand and in a tried, tested and successful system.
How does Gas-elec decide where engineers work? All engineers are given an area of prime responsibility that is as close as possible to where they live. But the postcode area is not exclusive to them, so if they are ill or on holiday, another engineer will step in order that we meet our clients’ needs. n
GAS-ELEC
WEBSITE:
www.gas-elec.co.uk/franchise PHONE: 0800 015 2030
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