Reaping The Rewards

Two female franchisees explain how they’ve built thriving businesses with the help of Right at Home

EWIF Franchisee of the Year finalist Julie Foote was one of the first franchisees to join Right at Home UK in 2011, providing quality home care services across East Lancashire and Ribble Valley.

In the five years since then Julie has built a highly successful business, operating as a premium quality brand, and carved a role in the community that’s led to her being recognised as an expert on older people’s well-being.

Outstanding result

Her hard work has resulted in Right at Home’s first ‘Outstanding’ result in its recent CQC inspection for the responsiveness of the service.

Julie says: “While the benefits a franchise offers are valid to both genders, a strong franchisor will look for owners whose strengths and attributes are well suited to their recipe for success.

“Right at Home’s business model focuses on empathy; strong organisation and management skills; an insistence on high standards of care; and investing in people, so it does appeal to a lot of women.

“I love reaping the rewards of running my own business in my local community and have enjoyed building a strong, consistent team around me as I expand the business.

“Having built it up from scratch, I’ve enjoyed overseeing the personal development of carers who have been with me since day one. I now have three in my senior team.

“My focus for 2016 was to utilise our community relationships to benefit more people in the areas where we operate. We’ve set up a successful lunch club with an entertainment programme and as a Dementia Champion trained by the Alzheimer’s Society I’ve given many community talks on being a Dementia Friend, raising awareness of the condition and promoting dementia friendly communities.

“This level of community integration, which is an important part of Right at Home’s operational model, has been really rewarding for me and the team. It’s also given us a strong presence in the area and indirectly cemented the credibility of my business.”

Impressive performance

Women now comprise more than 25 per cent of the Right at Home network, running 12 out of 44 franchises operating across England and Wales.

Ruth Solomons, owner of Right at Home Harrow and a former assistant head teacher, is one of five franchisees whose impressive business performance has elevated them into the network’s Premier Circle.

She says: “I chose to join a franchise because I wanted to be my own boss, creating a thriving and successful business, but also be part of a larger network, so that I could draw on the experience and expertise of others.

“It was hugely beneficial in the early days and now we are well established I still very much appreciate being part of a supportive network.

“Being able to share best practice and
compare performance with other Right at Home businesses is really helpful and has helped me to grow the business significantly faster than I ever could have as an independent.”