What is your background and why did you decide to go into franchising?

I am a qualified accountant and prior to joining Home Instead I worked in the finance sector in project management and latterly ran my own business. I was initially attracted to franchise as I really liked the idea of an established business model and the economies of scale which an international network such as Home Instead Senior Care can bring.

Why did you choose Senior Care?

In my research before setting up the business, I looked at a number of different sectors and care really stood out because it is something I feel is so important.  I feel immense pride in helping older people receive the quality services they need, as so often, much of the existing care provision is not always meeting these needs. Added to this the care sector is a growing market as our population is ageing, so there will be lots of opportunities to develop the business.

What was it that helped you decide on Home Instead Senior Care?

As soon as I met the national office team I was impressed, their professionalism and friendly attitude set them apart. They have an established network of offices which I was invited to contact to get an impression of what it is like, without exception they all genuinely care from national office to each individual office.

How has it been running your own franchise?

Without doubt it has been fantastic, it is hard work but you have a really good balance of national office supporting us and letting us find our way.  As a franchise we don’t  feel alone but you still learn plenty of lessons and things we may do differently in the future, but that’s life!! The system is different in Scotland to the rest of the UK so we need to ensure that we clearly explain just where and how our services fit in.

What does the future hold?

We are getting more brand recognition with a growing reputation for providing a high quality service to our clients. We have more and more people asking for our services and more and more caregivers wanting to work with us, which all bodes well for the future.  Of course our success will mean that hopefully we can soon enjoy a holiday in the sun!