“I’ve got ambitions and I see the potential for growth. There’s so many possibilities... that’s what I’m really excited about!”
Henry Terefenko is a year into running his McDonald’s restaurant in Carlisle. Henry began his career in housing, progressing through the ranks to the role of Managing Director but, coming from an entrepreneurial family, he always aspired to run his own business.
What did you do before running your McDonald’s restaurant and what led to the decision to join the network? After a building surveying degree at Salford University, I got my first job working for a housing association, collecting rent … it gave me an insight into people and how a lot of them were struggling. Having worked my way up, I became Executive Director of Communities, which saw me looking after neighbourhoods, coordinating community engagement … I moved into working in homelessness, and that became my passion – the things that we achieved in housing and homelessness was just beyond belief. Getting people off the streets, connecting with them on a personal level … I met some really challenged, vulnerable people. The work we did truly made a positive difference in people’s lives. I then became Managing Director of the whole company and it went from strength to strength. I wanted to concentrate on building up strong, safe, and resilient neighbourhoods so we started working with schools and local communities again. After two or three years, I thought:
“Right, where do we go next?” My wife’s a chartered accountant, and so we started to think about setting up in business on our own. Someone mentioned franchising to me – I’d never heard of it before, if I’m being honest, I thought it was an American concept – but once you start exploring, and the more you look into it, the more you see it’s a truly viable option. Once I started exploring McDonald’s – there was nobody else. Not just because it’s
a brand that I know and love – I truly grew up with McDonald’s! – it was the partnering approach they have that stood out to me. My grandma used to take us to McDonald’s on Sundays … She had to drag us to church, but for a treat, she’d take us to McDonald’s. It was a rite of passage going from a Happy Meal, then moving up to a Big Mac! It was only ever going to be McDonald’s!
Sounds like it was a no-brainer! It was. And for me, the experience where you go and work in the restaurant – it really cemented it that McDonald’s was the right decision. I spent five days in Torquay with the franchisee down there through the application process and it really opened my eyes to what McDonald’s have to offer for their crew. The training process itself is very hands on and I can’t thank the Business Managers who gave me the opportunity to train in their restaurants enough – they were brilliant. Especially the franchisee in Stockport who made me feel truly welcome whilst I was in his restaurant; he gave me an amazing insight into what it meant to be a franchisee and the work involved. It is very much an open book with McDonald’s, their support is truly astonishing, and I don’t think I’d be as successful if it wasn’t for the Franchisee Consultant – theirs is a really important role … I know I can pick up the phone whenever I need them and they’ll answer the call. I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve had two great Franchisee Consultants who have both supported me every step of the way. I certainly wouldn’t be sat in front you now if it wasn’t for the support of the franchisor. Getting through the recruitment process is quite stringent – rightly so, in my opinion. But what a journey it’s been! And now my family and I have moved from Manchester to Carlilse!
Why Carlisle? McDonald’s are very keen to work with you and find, if they can, a place of your choosing and where they see opportunities for your growth. As a family we were really flexible and were prepared to move anywhere for the right opportunity… McDonald’s knew through the interview process that we’re a quite outdoorsy
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