Gary & Nikki Jones
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Winners of "Franchisee of the Year Award 2009"
Gary & Nikki Jones who run Medics on the Move in Norwich have won two of the company’s “Business Achievement awards” for their Letting & Management portfolio AND the coveted Franchisee of the Year Award - beating 26 other franchisees.
Nikki said “Winning the franchisee of the year award is a real accolade because standards amongst the franchises are so high. It means a lot to me because I know that part of the reason for winning is down to feedback from our clients, - so it means we are getting it right!”
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Matthew Maitland, Peterborough
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Property Passion Key to Career Move...
Matthew Maitland is proof that running a franchise business is the ideal way to combine hobbies and interest with work.
Setting up a Peterborough branch of Medics on the Move allows him to mix his passion for property and his previous career experience in customer services with his dream of running his own business and being in control of his own destiny.
He said "the franchise opportunity gives me excellent ongoing support and means that I am effectively a local company with national support. Medics on the Move provides excellent training including the BTEC Advanced Certificate in Letting & Management".
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Richard Mason, & Ariana Gee - Brighton
Life Does Begin at 40!
As Richard Mason approached his 40th birthday, he began to think carefully about his hectic working life and whether he wanted to carry on at the same frenetic pace, doing the same thing, for another 20-odd years. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that he did not.
“I worked in senior management in the NHS and had spent all my working life in the public sector,” Richard said. “The work itself was interesting and exciting and gave me a real buzz. What I minded was the time I spent commuting to the office in London and then travelling to meetings, conferences and all the other events, because I hardly saw my family. My two little children were asleep when I left in the morning and back in bed by the time I came home again,” he continued.
When Richard decided to leave his well-paid job to be his own boss, he considered a range of options that included franchising, starting a business from scratch or buying an existing venture. Recognising that he had no small business experience, he thought it might be sensible to become a franchisee and enjoy the benefits of being independent while still part of a much larger organisation with all its support systems in place.
“It was a shrewd decision,” Richard said. “I felt that for me franchising was the best route to self-employment, so I did some research and then went to the London franchise exhibition with a list of companies I wanted to talk to. I think it is very important to meet people face to face, so you can judge whether you will get on well together over a long time and to confirm both parties have similar values and aspirations.
Richard became a franchisee in July 2005. His knowledge of the NHS and how it worked proved to be an enormous help to getting the business off to a flying start as he could empathise with his medical clients about their accommodation and relocation problems.
He felt comfortable working for himself in this very worthwhile sector and his business grew rapidly through word-of-mouth recommendation. He comments: “I set out to provide a reliable, decent and personal service and to treat people with respect and courtesy. It seems that this approach is increasingly unusual, judging by comments from clients who have had poor experiences in the past. I think it is very important to look after clients properly, to communicate with them regularly and to keep promises.
“It is very rewarding and clients are so appreciative when you help them. The business’s growth is well ahead of expectations, which is amazing since we have never had to advertise and people just keep coming to us. It meant I was beginning to work longer hours than I really wanted so I’ve just brought in a new business partner, Ariana Gee, to share the load – and help me to restore my work – life balance again!”
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