This is the story of how one Shuttercraft franchisee solved his son’s employment puzzle by offering him a job in the business.
It’s not easy finding a job nowadays, and especially if you are young. Getting your foot on the bottom rung of the ladder is sometimes the most difficult step of all. And this is exactly what teenager William from the North Midlands discovered earlier this year.
However, his father Charlie came up with the perfect solution. He would offer his son a job within his own Shuttercraft business. Charlie owns Shuttercraft franchises in Nottingham and Derbyshire, so was in the perfect position to help his son secure his first employment.
William had been searching for an apprenticeship which, during the ongoing pandemic, proved to be more difficult than normal. Charlie did have a long-term vision of bringing his son into the business but at a much later date. The plan was for William to get work experience elsewhere, before joining the family firm.
Yet, when William’s search for an apprenticeship proved unsuccessful, it all happened sooner than expected. And with UK families confined to their properties during lockdown, which meant they were unable to spend money on holidays or in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, the pandemic helped to create a boom in the home improvements market.
With the boom in full swing, and plenty of clients to satisfy, Charlie felt this was an ideal time to offer William a job in his business. Charlie has grown both of his franchise territories over the past four years, and is hoping to share this success with his son.
Dad Charlie said: “We didn’t expect this would happen so soon. But, because of Covid, he joined the family business. I would like to see William running the business at some stage, that’s my goal. When this happens – if it does – we could do some sort of split regarding equity, so he would own a certain percentage of the company.
“But if he was to turn round and say ‘I don’t wish to continue in the business, I want to do something else,’ then that’s not a problem either. Working at Shuttercraft, he will learn about running the accounts, and will experience the marketing side of it all. He will learn how to manage people, how to recruit, and all in his first five years of employment. By the time he’s 23 he’ll be in an amazing position to set up his own business, having acquired some amazing experiences by then.”
In 2020, the Hampshire-based company collected one of UK franchising’s most prestigious awards. Just a few weeks after being granted full membership of the British Franchise Association (BFA), they were named Business Transformation Franchisor of the Year.
Shuttercraft is a management franchise which specialises in high-quality interior shutters and blinds, and has provided top-class window treatment services across the UK for the past 19 years.
To contact their Winchester headquarters, with regards to making an enquiry about becoming their latest franchisee, please click here.
