Forces to be reckoned with

Ex-army, navy and air-force personnel, along with former police and emergency services staff, present a particularly attractive prospect to franchise recruitment managers. Why? Well, apart from the fact that they’ve known hard work and frequent challenging situations, there are many parallels to be drawn between franchising and a career in the services. One of the main reasons is that franchising’s core principles are hugely compatible with key skills developed in these vocations. Firstly, the concept of ‘work for yourself, not by yourself’ – needing self-reliance but having the backup support of a trusted network – will be familiar. As will following a tried- and-tested model; service life involves intense training, discipline and adhering to prescribed systems and methods in order to succeed, all of which are second nature to anyone who has thrived in this environment.

Furthermore, according to army.mod.uk, there are more than 200 different roles in the military, each with its own challenges and rewards. So, armed (as it were) with a wealth of skills and knowledge, there are franchise opportunities out there to suit anyone in search of a new career.

One company keen to take on ex- forces franchisees is HomeXperts, an estate and letting agency business. Managing director Sussanne Chambers comments: “Ex-forces personnel are perfect for our model. Many of the skills they have gained during their time in the forces are transferable to a HomeXperts franchise. They are used to working with people and are therefore able to quickly build relationships with landlords and vendors. We also find that they are used to following instructions and understand the importance of following the franchise model to achieve success.”

Thorough training in a new occupation – provided by franchisors as standard – means that, regardless of experience, those from a military, law enforcement or rescue background can enter into virtually any industry and be equipped to make a success of it.

So, please make sure you stand to attention as a former chief superintendent, a bandleader and two airmen share their tales of life after service...

Calum Gray, Caremark

After performing the role of bandmaster and director of music in the army for 20 years, Calum took on the Caremark franchise for Winchester and Eastleigh.

After leaving the army, why did you decide to go into franchising?
At the age of 16 I enlisted in the army as a musician. I had no long-term plans to remain in uniform but, as things transpired, my military career lasted 33 years. The last 20 years of my army career was spent as a bandmaster, then director of music. I knew  that in my second career I wanted a degree of control, I had no desire to be locked into a nine-to-five office job. Running my own business was, therefore, the obvious answer and, without having any previous experience in this field, franchising ticked all the boxes.

Why did Caremark appeal to you?

Prior to leaving the army I was a volunteer with a national organisation supporting people in crisis and I found this hugely fulfilling. Having a second career in domiciliary care – providing care and support for vulnerable members of our community in their own homes – was a natural route to follow. After carrying out my research, Caremark was the first business that I visited, where I was provided with my first introduction to domiciliary care. I was immediately taken by their professional, patient and informative approach. Although other care providers demonstrated impressive qualities, it ultimately proved an easy decision to opt for Caremark.

How do the skills you acquired in the army help towards running your own franchise?

Domiciliary care is a people business and many of the skills I developed in the army are called upon on a daily basis, such as my communication and organisation skills. There is no shortage of challenges, whether it’s developing the office team, recruiting and training new carers, or marketing and growing the business, there is always something.

Was it the right decision to move into franchising?

Having spent so many years in uniform, often wondering how my post-military life would unfold, I consider myself very lucky to have such a rewarding second career. There is nothing to be lost and potentially much to be gained from contacting head office. Caremark continues to grow and I am delighted to be playing my part.

Nick Barber, Minster Cleaning Services

Nick, 54, has been franchisee for Minster Cleaning Services’ Northampton and Milton Keynes branch since 1996. Annual turnover at the branch is now over £1.7million and Nick was named as Minster’s Franchisee of the Year in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and was a 2014 B2B bfa Franchisee of the Year finalist.

What did you do prior to investing in a franchise and what led you to Minster Cleaning Services?

I spent 16 years as a Royal Air Force navigator. On leaving the RAF I wanted to go into business on my own and had identified franchising as the best way forward for all the usual reasons: the relatively high success rates of a franchised business compared with starting one from scratch, a tried-and-tested business model with established systems, and so on. I met Chris Campbell at a franchise exhibition; he had been a fellow flyer in the RAF and had taken on Minster’s Southampton franchise just over a year earlier. He was already building a strong business on the south coast and I could see the massive potential.

How was the transition from life in the forces to self-employment? Have there been any challenges

Minster eases this transition by providing help and advice from the very first day.

The comprehensive support package takes care of the main day-to-day business activities, including IT, accounts, marketing and training, as well as providing professional advice on employment law, health and safety and environmental legislation, so franchisees can concentrate their efforts on business development.

Minster is very much a ‘people business’ and the main challenges come from employing large numbers of people, which is why organisational and managerial skills are so important.

Have the skills you gained in the forces helped you in running your franchise?

My 16 years in the RAF gave me an excellent grounding for a career with Minster Cleaning Services. Serving in the forces gives you lots of responsibility and encourages a ‘can-do’ attitude – great attributes for setting up a business. Minster Cleaning Services is a business where I have been able to use the people- management and organisational skills that I developed in the RAF. Ex-forces people make ideal Minster Cleaning Services franchisees: Minster offers the opportunity to create a large business; it’s a real management business where you need to be a leader who can motivate, train and develop employees as well as build up good long-term relationships with  your customers. Five Minster franchisees came from the forces and they are all running successful businesses and building valuable assets for themselves.

What do you enjoy most about owning your business?

I like being in control of my own destiny and I like the fact that the nature of our business means that there is no such thing as a typical day; I love the tremendous variety that comes with working with so many different business professionals from a wide range of industry sectors.

What are your plans for the future?

More of the same. I have no plans to take things easy for the foreseeable future and I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue to be so successful. The size of my territory, which includes Daventry, Corby, Kettering, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Wellingborough and Northampton, gives me almost unlimited scope for expansion and we put a lot of effort into making sure the quality of our service is so high that our existing customers have no reason to go elsewhere. Well-trained, motivated staff are extremely important and we have found that by fine-tuning our service to match clients’ ever-changing requirements we’re picking up extra business, both from existing customers and by recommendation from our happy customers.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a franchise?

Check out the franchisor’s credentials very carefully. Do your homework and make sure there is a market for the product or service in your area of interest. Speak to as many franchisees as you possibly can. Make sure that you have a big enough area to generate the level of income you require. Make sure you read the small print – understand what you are you getting for your money and what rights you will have. Do you have exclusive rights to the area in which you will operate? How long will your franchise last and what options do you have to renew? What support will you get at the start and what continuing support is available? If you have people-management ability and are prepared to work hard, buy a Minster franchise!

Graham Coulston-Herrmann

Pictured with his wife Jen, Graham retired from Lancashire Constabulary after 30 years in September 2012, his final posting was as chief superintendent, in charge of one of the force’s six divisions. His Dublcheck franchise covers Lancashire and part of Greater Manchester.

What made you decide to franchise, and why Dublcheck?

I was drawn to franchising as I had no previous commercial experience and the statistics for successful businesses are much better than with your own startup. I attended the franchise exhibition in Manchester in the spring of 2012. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I retired but knew I had a burning desire to run my own business. During the day I spent some time on the Dublcheck stand and was taken by the friendly helpful people who were there.  

I came away and looked at the figures and liked the guaranteed turnover in year one. I also liked the idea that I didn’t need to take out a huge loan, as the costs were quite low in comparison to some other franchises. I also felt that the Dublcheck concept would allow me to grow the business into a managed franchise giving me the flexibility to fit it in around the schedules of my wife’s shifts and our three sports-mad young children. I looked at many other options but was always drawn back to the people at Dublcheck.

How do you feel your business is going? Do you feel your skills gained in the forces helped?

I have now been trading for three and a half years and have more than quadrupled my original turnover. Despite a few teething problems with staff and HMRC – a good accountant and getting involved in the local business community has helped – every month I grow in confidence. I have attended a Kick Start programme with Dublcheck, which has increased my confidence in selling. The skills I have transferred into running a business are mainly dealing with people, attention to detail and making sure the service is of high quality. I am still at the beginning of my Dublcheck franchise journey, but so far, so good!