Your opportunity knocks

 

 

Your opportunity knocks

Daily Mail 17.12.2007

By: Linda Whitney

REDUNDANCY is never pleasant, but rather than letting it be a great disaster, it can be a great opportunity. If you have always wanted to set up in business for yourself, redundancy can give you the chance.

Franchisors are looking for people with the experience, skills, track record and funds that many of those made redundant can bring.

'We welcome suitable people who have been made redundant,' says Nigel Toplis, of Recognition Express, whose franchisees supply corporate promotional items.

'Once you have got over the initial shock of redundancy, you will be looking to get a new position that offers greater opportunity — a franchise could be just what you are looking for,' adds Mr Toplis, who is looking for more franchisees with £30,000 to invest.

Finding yourself suddenly unemployed might tempt you to rush into another job. But if finance allows, it pays to take time to consider your future. Do you want to change sectors, or switch from an office job to the outdoors? A franchise can help because franchisors do not usually require experience in their sector, as they give training.

'Our franchisees come from all kinds of backgrounds ,and we often see people who have been made redundant or fear it might happen,' says Michael Crapper of Card Line Greetings.

'They tend to feel happier in control of their destiny — working for themselves they cannot be made redundant again.' Card Line franchisees provide a greetings card delivery and restocking service to retailers, and there are resale franchises available from £20,000. 'The experience and support offered by a good franchisor is particularly appealing to people who want to get into business for themselves without the usual risk,' says Mr Crapper.

Nine out of ten franchises succeed, compared to the four out of five independent businesses that fail within their first two years.

If you want to make use of your knowledge of the sector in which you worked, consider a recruitment franchise.

Ian Peters, at CNA Executive Search, whose franchisees provide executive recruitment services, says: 'Almost all our franchisees specialise in recruiting into the sector from which they came.

'Their knowledge of employers, pay rate and skills required, give them an advantage. It tends to take two to three months for confidence to return after being made redundant, but then people start coming to meet franchisors, usually after doing a lot of research,' says Mr Peters.

Typical investment required for a CNA franchise is £55,000-60,000, including the money you will need to keep yourself going over the first six months. You can keep initial costs down by working from home.

Recognition Express, 01530 513 300, Card Line 0121 522 4407, CNA Executive Search 01332 856 200, Driver Hire 01274 551 166..

Don’t be afraid of change

GRANT WILSON, 50, invested in a Driver Hire recruitment franchise after being made redundant from his job as an accountant. 'Redundancy comes as a shock, but it can force you into doing what you have always said you wanted to do, and now I am glad that it gave me the opportunity to work for myself,' says Grant, pictured.

Grant, from Aberdeen, got £20,000 in redundancy payments, and he researched franchises with the help of the British Franchise Association. 'I was used to working with people and running a business, so I chose a franchise that involved management skills,' he says. His Driver Hire business now places 120 people in temporary driving jobs each week as well as placing permanent workers.

He has 11 staff and turnover was £2.5 million last year.

'Redundancy can come as bad tidings as most people are frightened of change, but it can turn it to be the best thing that ever happens,' says Grant.

John Warren of Driver Hire says: 'People who have been made redundant, especially in later life, often make extremely good franchisees as they have skills, work ethic and business acumen.' Driver Hire, the UK's largest provider of temporary and permanent drivers, is looking for anyone with a good work ethic, business-head and with £50,000 to invest..