St Albans-based Laurence Fitch was the general manager of a family company importing ceramic tiles throughout the South East. He left early in 2008 due to the downturn in the economic climate. His business partner, Ruth, had spent the last 10 years working for an international investment bank in the City. She had the opportunity to take redundancy from the bank in August 2008. They joined the Auditel Cost Management Consultancy Franchise in that year and have just renewed their franchise agreement for another five years.

Laurence and Ruth have become well established within the marketplace of cost management. They have succeeded in building a comprehensive client base, many of whom offer glowing testimonials. Their growing reputation, both in the business community and the Auditel network has been fully recognised. Laurence and Ruth were the ‘Rising Stars of the Year’ in 2009 and ‘Franchise of the Year’ in 2010. Ruth has become a member of the Auditel Franchise Advisory Council and Laurence, a Regional Principal for the NW London Group.

This year, they have achieved over £1,000,000 worth of savings for their clients. Laurence and Ruth say: “It is very pleasing to reach this figure and should be celebrated. However, what really keeps us motivated is the knowledge that the savings we have achieved for our clients has made a real difference in the recent tough economic climate. Every single pound saved will have benefitted them.  For one client, the savings made were used to fund a new sales team to help them generate further sales. This is something they could not have achieved without Auditel.”

It came as a wonderful unexpected surprise to them yesterday when they were presented at Auditel’s Regional Meeting with a cake to mark their achievement. Laurence says: “Most people know that our office has a liking for cake. On this occasion we felt it more appropriate to donate the cake to Keech Hospice, our local hospice. We do hope that patients and staff at Keech enjoy it!”

Franchising has evidently been very good for Laurence and Ruth. They declare: “The result is one of the best business decisions of our lives!”