Business News
Banker unearths new business opportunity
By Jon Griffin
Former Midland banker Roy Harris refused to let the grass grow under his feet in retirement – and decided to launch a new lawn care business. Roy is carving out a new career
path at the age of 60 with Greensleeves Lawn Care (Worcestershire), a one-man operation tending domestic lawns across a wide area of the West Midlands county. The former HSBC Regional
Director for Commercial Banking in the Midlands is back in full-time work two and a half years after retiring from the bank following a 42-year-career in the corporate world. The father of six bought a
franchise from Greensleeves, a national lawn care business with 88 current UK franchisees and more than 60,000 customers - signing up for a five-year term. Roy has ditched the pinstripe
suits, canapes and black tie dinners for the great outdoors – and is
learning all the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping weeds at bay and all other aspects of lawn care. The ex-banker had clocked up
more than four decades by the time he left HSBC in September 2014 – and says he has no regrets about going back into the world of work full-time with his Greensleeves business. “I had really enjoyed being in the
corporate world but also felt that there was more to life. There is a world beyond the corporate sector and I had not spent any time considering what that world might be. I read an article about franchising, did some research and looked at 14 different options, including sports coaching, running a six a side football leisure league and general gardening stuff. “I whittled the 14 down to three
and the standout one was Greensleeves – I was impressed with the product and the customer experience. I’ve signed up for five years and am enjoying the challenge of learning new skills.
“It is a completely different way
of life, I have now got blisters and calluses on my hands, and I am building up some shoulders. But I am fit and healthy, and wanted to do something that I can build up and develop as a business.” Roy’s business will see him tend
domestic lawns across the WR postcode in Worcestershire, including Worcester, Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham, Malvern, Tenbury Wells and other towns. Roy says he hopes to recruit as
his business grows. “I hope to take on an employee to help me cope with the growing workload, to grow the business and eventually have two vans on the road. I am currently renting a van and the vast majority of expenditure is on equipment. “At the age of 60 I am working
full-time again. I guess only time will tell how it works out but I have no regrets about going back into full- time work. This is something totally different for me, new, fresh, invigorating – I knew there was more to life than the corporate world but I had to sort out what more was.”
Roy Harris is building a new career with Greensleeves
18 CHAMBERLINK May 2017
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