Research from Oxford University revealed that happy workers are 13% more productive than unhappy workers1. So, with the average Brit spending 42.5 hours at work each week2, it is a good idea to make sure you’re doing something you enjoy. However, this is easier said than done with millions of people feeling trapped in jobs they don’t love. Greensleeves’ franchisee Andrew Bullivant counts himself as one of the happiest business owners in the UK and tells us why the grass could be greener if you choose to join a franchise.
Franchising can often be a solution for many people who want to get out of the rat race or enjoy the rewards of their hard work. Not only does franchising offer people a unique opportunity to become their own boss, but it also gives them the benefits of partnering with an established business with a proven track record of success. I wanted a change of career for around five years before I finally decided to take the leap. After working as a store manager, I knew I had the skills to try something different. However, I stayed working in retail for much longer than I should have because it was the easier option, doing what I knew and was comfortable with.
I’d always wanted to run my own business, so when the opportunity arose for me to take on my local Greensleeves territory, I didn’t want to regret not taking my chance. Working outside was also an ambition of mine and I have a passion for gardening, so Greensleeves ticked all the boxes. Initially, I was nervous about switching careers to become a franchisee with Greensleeves because it was a completely different kind of role. However, the transition was very manageable. I couldn’t be happier with where I am in terms of my career right now.
Many people want to become a business owner. Franchising lets you do exactly that. You can enjoy all the benefits of being your own boss and be part of a larger network of like-minded individuals and industry experts with whom you can solve problems and share ideas and best practices. Having a support structure behind you gives you a huge advantage over starting a business on your own, relieving you of a lot of stress.
Since joining Greensleeves, I’ve felt valued and always get great support from the head office team who are always on hand whenever I need them. When you’re part of a large company you don’t always get much support, so joining Greensleeves was a breath of fresh air for me. It’s great to have access to the people who can give you instant support. Greensleeves continually look to make my day-to-day work life easier. For example, they developed an app to speed up our admin processes and provide additional training top-up sessions whenever we need them. Besides all the great support, I think the best part of being a Greensleeves franchisee is getting to go out on the lawns and see my happy customers after a job well done.
Franchisees finding freedom
My fellow franchisees, Chris Dibble and Neil Grainger also swapped their old jobs to become business owners with the lawn-care franchise. Formerly a precision engineer, Chris decided to start a Greensleeves lawn-care franchise with his brother Ray in 2014, leaving their previous careers to find something more stimulating. “I sold office supplies and Ray worked in a warehouse. We just wanted to get out and run our own business together. Since becoming franchisees with Greensleeves, we’ve never looked back. We love what we do now and are both focused on the success of our business.”
Neil decided he no longer wanted to work in a factory and looked for a complete career change. “Back in my younger days, I worked outside. I just wanted to get back to that and do something I enjoyed. Greensleeves offered training to fill the skills gaps I had in lawn-care experience so I could get out there and run my business with confidence. I’m surprised more people don’t look at becoming franchisees to enter the world of business ownership.”
Franchising is a great way for you to improve your work-life balance and find happiness at work.
1 Oxford University, 2019, Happy workers are 13% more productive
2 Eurostat, 2021, Hours worked per week of full-time employment
