Driver Hire: An established franchise with a track record of growth
More than 40 years after it was founded, Driver Hire continues to combine the strength of an established national brand with a business model that keeps evolving.
Established in 1983 and franchising since 1987, Driver Hire has grown to become the UK’s leading specialist logistics recruiter, with a nationwide network of more than 100 offices.
Franchisees operate locally owned recruitment businesses, supplying temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff to organisations within their territories. It’s a hands-on, people-focused business, built around developing customer relationships, recruiting quality candidates and becoming a trusted staffing partner to local employers.
A strong track record
Driver Hire’s 2025/26 results provide an indication of the scale and performance of the network:
- £129.1m record UK network turnover, up 7.8%
- 70% of offices achieved year-on-year growth
- 58% of franchisees exceeded £1m annual turnover
- Two franchises exceeded £4m turnover
- The network worked with 4,700 customers
- More than 15,000 people found work through Driver Hire
The support of a national organisation
Franchisees benefit from almost four decades of franchising experience and a 70-strong support team covering sales, recruitment, marketing, IT, compliance, finance, HR and National Accounts.
New franchisees undertake comprehensive initial training, including a two-week Foundation Course and practical experience in established offices, followed by ongoing support from an Area Development Manager.
Driver Hire’s National Accounts operation also creates business opportunities for franchisees, generating £36.5m of network turnover in 2025/26, equivalent to 29% of total network revenue.
Innovation continues through Driver Hire’s Virtual Territory programme, which enables established franchisees to develop under-served areas without opening another physical office. Twenty-two Virtual Territories now operate across the UK, generating more than £7m of additional revenue this year.
What our franchisees tell us
Long-term relationships are a hallmark of the network. Five current franchisees have been with Driver Hire for more than 30 years, while 37 franchisees have been part of the business for over a decade.
That experience is reinforced by independent feedback, with Driver Hire achieving the WorkBuzz 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award for two consecutive years.
There is no single background required to become a Driver Hire franchisee. What matters is the ability to work with people, build relationships, lead a team and develop a sustainable business.
As Anne Goodfellow of Driver Hire Nottingham puts it:
“Driver Hire is the family you didn’t know you needed in business. I’m truly proud to be part of it.”
Testimonials:
“There’s a real sense of achievement in running your own business, finding work for drivers and going above and beyond to meet customer needs. We’ve developed great relationships with people who we genuinely like and can have a laugh with. And we’ve found that [as husband and wife business partners], we actually like working with each other too!” – Fiona Hennah – Driver Hire Leeds West
“Running the franchise is still demanding – it’s fast-paced and no two days are the same. But it’s had a massive impact on my life in a very positive way. I still work full time in the business, but my work-life balance is so much better. Then there are the financial rewards too – I’m bringing in double or even treble what I was doing in my previous employed management role.” – Priyank Patel – Driver Hire Kingston & Leatherhead
“I love being a Driver Hire franchisee. There’s a real franchise family with other offices always ready to help me out – as I am ready to help them. It’s now delivering financial stability and other rewards too. Looking back, Driver Hire was entirely the right decision.” – Harriette Wood – Driver Hire Stockport