It was drinks all round at the award-winning Sheffield office of Visiting Angels where turnover has grown exponentially.
With the UK’s age demographic illustrating a rapidly growing elderly population it is no surprise to learn there are more and more new businesses starting up in the care sector.
One company to take the plunge, and enjoy immediate success, is Visiting Angels whose first UK franchise opened in Sheffield three years ago.
Earlier this month, the same office celebrated a momentous milestone by becoming the first Visiting Angels franchise in the UK to post a turnover of £2m.
And this remarkable figure arrived just six months after the Sheffield branch had broken through the £1m mark. Since starting up, this particular office has doubled in size and now provides more than 1,750 hours of care each week to their elderly clients.
Visiting Angels opened for business in the United States back in 1998, since when it has provided ‘in-the-home care services’ to families across the country.
Their global moto is a simple one: ‘We’ll help your loved one continue to live at home, and we’ll help you find peace of mind.’
Managing director Dan Archer, who brought the brand to the UK, is obviously delighted with how the business has grown in such a short space of time: “When we launched in 2017, we projected a million-pound turnover in year three. So, to achieve that, smash through it and double it within six months is astounding.
“It just goes to show that despite the recent economic uncertainty, it is possible to grow a profitable business in the care sector with the right team. It is an incredibly proud moment indeed, especially as we’re seeing such incredible growth throughout the rest of the UK network too.”
Visiting Angels is one of America’s largest care franchises, with over 600 offices operating in five countries. When it crossed the Atlantic, it became the UK’s first ‘carer-centric’ in-home care provider.
They guarantee their care workers a minimum hourly wage of £10. They also offer annual pay rises, a generous mileage allowance, regular car servicing and valeting, plus a mobile phone and much more. And Dan adds: “All of this helps to ensure that everyone feels valued.”
The story of the Sheffield franchise’s success is nothing short of spectacular. Within a year of their launch, Dan and his team were awarded ‘Best International Franchise’ at the Visiting Angels‘ annual conference in Philadelphia.
They are also the fastest-growing office in the brand’s history and, for two years in a row, were shortlisted as finalists at the Great British Care Awards.
And Sheffield’s success was praised by two franchise owners in other parts of the UK. Lynn James, who runs North Surrey, said: “It’s amazing, not just for the Sheffield office, but for all of us at Visiting Angels. It is clear that people have very different needs and a one-size-fits-all approach to care simply doesn’t work. Caregivers are truly unsung heroes who need to be allowed to care, not just perform tasks, and those at Visiting Angels understand that.” Lynn launched her business with husband Chris earlier this year after noticing problems within the care industry.
Gareth Redmayne, who opened the South Hertfordshire office in September 2019, added: “What makes this achievement extra special is how I, along with the rest of the UK network, can envisage where our business is heading and how far we can take it in the future. Having something like this to strive towards is extremely inspiring.”
