Franchise Focus A winning formula
Vance and Sue Parsons’ success proves a Driver Hire franchise was the right decision INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £35,000*
customers and candidates – ideas that were working well for neighbouring Driver Hire offi ces. It’s really why you buy into a franchise. It’s the whole set up: you can access the knowledge and expertise of those who’ve been in your position and know the best way to manage the business.”
Win-win situation
(Left to right) Luke Lang (founder of Crowd Cube), Vance and Sue Parsons (Driver Hire Hereford and Worcester), David McQueen (Startup Awards’ evening compère)
H
usband-and-wife team Vance and Sue Parsons were no strangers to the franchise formula when they bought Driver Hire’s
Hereford and Worcester territory in September 2013. Vance had previously worked in franchising for a debt management company and was later employed by one franchisor to help sell its territories. Vance said: “I know how the franchise model works, and the invaluable franchisor and network support that comes with it. When I decided to go back to working for myself, buying a franchise was the best way forward, so I researched credible franchise options which were right for me and my family.”
Proven business model Their research led them to Driver Hire, a B2B management franchise with over 30 years’ trading history. Franchisees running a Driver Hire offi ce are allocated their own postcode-defi ned territory, and help local businesses and organisations that operate vehicles to fi nd temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff. “For us, it was an easy decision when Driver Hire’s Hereford and Worcester territory went on the market,” commented Vance. “It has a proven business model,
and speaking to existing franchisees validated the success stories we’d read and heard about.” While Vance and Sue had no previous experience of recruitment or the transport and logistics sector, they were passionate about building their own business and providing a high level of customer service. They started from scratch to rebuild a customer base of clients and recruit skilled drivers looking for work. “It was a steep learning curve at times, but you get that with any new business venture in the early days,” said Sue. “We had quite a lot to learn but you soon get to grips with it all.”
Training and support Driver Hire franchisees fi rst attend an initial foundation training programme and then join a new franchisee support programme once they’ve started. This usually lasts six months and provides new franchisees with enhanced support from their area manager and head offi ce, focusing on specifi c areas where extra help is required. This covers marketing, national accounts, compliance, fi nance, IT and more. Vance added: “The programme really helped us on our way once we opened for business. Our area manager was very encouraging and talked us through a few ideas that we could use to attract more
The couple have certainly had a fantastic start. Working to their business plan, they took on an apprentice to provide extra support. It enabled Vance to spend more time devising and implementing ways to help grow the business further. Initial turnover has surpassed predictions for their fi rst full fi nancial year, exceeding £650,000 in 2014/15 and £770,000 in 2015/16. On top of this achievement they’ve also picked up a number of awards, including Franchisee of the Year at the 2014 Startups Awards. Vance and Sue have found running their Driver Hire franchise all-consuming at times. “It’s a cliché but the more you put into your business the more you get out,” said Vance. “We’re in this for at least the next 10 years and we’re throwing everything into it to maximise our investment. Beating expectations in our fi rst year and gaining recognition for our achievements has certainly made all the hard work worthwhile, and proved we made the right decision.”
receiving their Driver Hire ‘New Start of receiving their Driver Hire ‘New
Start of the Year’ 2015 award from Driver Hire’s UK Managing
Receiving their award
from Driver Hire’s UK managing director Jeremy Neale (centre)
Driver Hire Recruitment
www.driverhirefranchise.co.uk franchise@driverhire.co.uk 01274 361 073
October 2016 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 125
*Investment level for resales is from £50,000-£100,000
Investment: £20k-£50k
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