The on-going pandemic has created a UK workforce uncertain about its future, with many former employees now opting for a career in franchising.
There are many reasons why individuals might consider joining the franchise sector for their next career move. The franchise industry has grown significantly over the last few decades, and there are now almost 1,000 different franchise companies in the UK. This means there is ample opportunity for individuals to operate their own businesses by becoming a franchisee.
In most cases, the franchisee requires no previous experience, just the right attitude and transferable skills. For this reason, the franchise sector attracts people from all kinds of different working backgrounds. Following the financial crash of 2008, there was an inevitable surge of unemployment.
Many companies were suddenly under financial stress and needed to lower their expenditure. This was often achieved by reducing staffing levels for a period of time. Thousands of people fell victim to this, and were made redundant, while new jobs were few and far between.
However, bucking the general trend at the time was the franchise industry which experienced significant growth. Suddenly, many more people were starting to take greater control of their future by opting to run their own business, rather than work for someone else.
This option appeared preferable and more attractive than being an employee, which sometimes feels like you’re waiting for the next wave of redundancies to kick-in. As a result, interest in franchising increased dramatically after the crash. The UK economy has since turned that corner and shown great resilience in recent years – especially when you consider that no sooner did the financial world recover from one major problem, it suddenly had to face another called the pandemic.
The Bank of England upgraded its 2021 growth outlook for the economy from 5% to 7.25%, which is great news for the world’s fifth-largest economy. This positive economic forecast is music to our ears, as we gradually emerge from lockdown, with more and more people being vaccinated against Covid-19. However, the future is not always certain, and the longer-term impact of the pandemic – on both the economy and the job market – cannot be easily predicted.
Whatever the future holds, franchising is likely to remain a popular choice for those wishing to take greater control of their destiny. One huge benefit of running your own business is that you control your life on a day-to-day basis. But don’t be fooled. All franchisees must be prepared to work hard, especially at the start, but at least you have some flexibility over the hours you keep.
Soon after the first lockdown took hold in March 2020 we, at Driver Hire, experienced a sudden rise in interest from people keen to investigate the world of franchising. And it was a similar story in many other franchised companies.
So what did happen in the spring of last year? The nature of work changed for millions of people, with many forced to ‘construct’ temporary offices in their own home. There was a boom in home deliveries, with logistics staff suddenly being categorised as key workers. This meant a sharp increase in the recruitment of drivers at our company, as people were needed to deliver clothes, food and an array of household goods.
Within our own business, we were delighted to launch six new territories during the final eight months of 2020. Our new franchisees arrived from a variety of backgrounds, including one husband and wife team. However, the immediate future remains ever so uncertain for many people, as the shift away from traditional working environments continues to sweep through our lives and in some cases changing them for ever.
More and more people are considering their futures, and have become accustomed to working from home. Many wish to retain this method of earning money, and are searching for ways to become their own bosses, while seeking greater personal control over what they do for a career. This is why franchising has become an attractive option over the past year.
The very thought of returning to the office, which may require a long, expensive commute via car or train, has triggered the burning desire to seek an alternative. Those who choose to pursue a career in franchising will discover that they are part of a larger network of people happy to offer advice.
Whatever franchise you select the majority of budding new business partners undertake a period of comprehensive training, and enjoy on-going support, while tapping into a tried, trusted and successful model, which has evolved over time. Why not find out more about taking that first step into franchising, a move that has the potential to change your life for the better, as you become your own boss by taking control of each and every new working day.
This feature was brought to you by Driver Hire, the UK’s largest specialist logistics recruiter, with over 100 offices nationwide. The company opened its doors in west Yorkshire almost 40 years ago.
