The British Franchise Association awards Jan Mitman highest honour for franchising contribution
Published: 17 December 2015
Jan Mitman, who made her name in the sector by growing the Drain Doctor franchise alongside husband Freddie from a standing start to a renowned national brand, has been named a Companion of the British Franchise Association (bfa) for her contribution and dedication to franchising.
The highest honour for individuals given by the bfa, Mitman becomes just the 19th recipient of Companionship since the Association’s formation in 1977. After co-founding Drain Doctor in 1993, she franchised the business a year later and spent more than two decades growing the brand to its current position thanks to her focus on customer service and meticulously finding and supporting the right franchisees.
When they sold the Drain Doctor master licence back to parent franchisor the Dwyer Group in October, Jan and Freddie had grown their network to over 80 franchisees and nearly £30million turnover.
Operating in a heavily male-dominated industry, Jan’s been described in the past as ‘the most powerful woman in plumbing and drainage’.
An unerring commitment to ethics and the community has seen her become a central figure in franchising, well-known for championing the business model and inspiring more women to become involved in the sector. She has won several awards over her career and also held several governance roles within the bfa, in the last two years alone serving as forum chair and member of multiple committees.
Jan says: “I was thrilled and delighted on Thursday night to be made a Companion of the British Franchise Association. I have been a member of the bfa for 22 years and served as a regional chair as well as supporting various board committees. I am passionate about franchising, as I firmly believe it is the safest way for people to go into business.
“Having sold our Drain Doctor master licence I still intend to be involved in the franchising world. I have been a keynote speaker and have been approached by several other franchise companies with a view to helping them. Over the years I have gained a lot of knowledge which I am happy to share.”
