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Mobility retail franchise teams up with social enterprise fund to help budding entrepreneurs

18 March 2014

Ableworld, the UK’s leading mobility retailer are pleased to announce that they have been accepted as an approved member of the FranchisingWorks programme, a social enterprise that tackles unemployment by helping to create new businesses and jobs through franchising.

As well as providing independent advice and practical support to people interested in franchising, the programme also boasts a fund of over one million pounds worth of investment from Big Society Capital and the Esme Fairbairn Foundation which can be used to invest in franchise licences for qualifying candidates needing extra financial support.

Ableworld was impressed with the concept, and after passing a rigorous assessment process is pleased to join the select group of reputable franchisors who have been approved onto the programme. In the wake of the recession, thousands of very skilled and qualified individuals found themselves out of a job, and it’s these people that the programme is looking to help. The FranchisingWorks Licence Fund is designed to ‘plug the gap’ for those struggling to raise the investment needed to start a franchise business, and because it’s an investment and not a loan, many banks will treat it as a personal contribution and therefore still normally lend between 50 and 70% of the total cost of the franchise.

With the sharp demographic changes taking place and ever-increasing demand for products to help the elderly and disabled, Ableworld are looking to expand their franchise business and saw the FranchisingWorks programme as one way of recruiting those sought after driven and ambitious individuals.


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