Discover your entrepreneurial spirit with the Subway brand
Franchising offers an attractive business model for many, as it provides a secure bridge between running your own business, but with the added reassurance that you have the support of a global brand.
For these reasons, franchising in the UK and Ireland is growing in popularity and this drive is not expected to slow.
Momentum
The Subway brand recently opened its 2,500th store in the UK and Ireland, propelling its plans to increase the number of stores in the UK and Ireland to 3,000 by 2020, creating around 5,000 new jobs.
With such momentum underway, Subway is embracing the next generation of franchisees and now is a better time than ever to join one of the largest and most popular franchise brands.
With low start-up costs for a franchise of its size and stature, Subway’s successful franchise model is enabling thousands of ambitious and entrepreneurial individuals to fulfil their dreams of becoming their own boss.
One franchisee who has utilised Subway’s network is Swansea-based Jamie Lloyd, who started franchising at just 19 years old. Now 30 and a seasoned franchisee, Jamie has two successful Subway stores running in Wales.
He says: “At 19 I was fresh out of college and didn’t know what professional avenue I wanted to go down.
“It was during a family barbeque in 2006 that Subway first sprung to mind and, from there, my father and I requested the brand’s franchising brochure, which contained all the details we needed to make an informed decision.
“I first opened the Gorseinon store and, when the time was right, decided to open a second solo store in Morriston.
During this time my career developed rapidly, as I was suddenly solely responsible for each of the Subway stores’ operations and development.”
Robust
New Subway franchisees are provided with robust support and training to get their businesses up and running. Every new franchisee attends a comprehensive two-week training course at the UK and Ireland’s Subway training centre in Cambridge.
In addition, regional development agents provide support and assistance on the ground with site selection, leasing, operations and store development. There are also regular opportunities to meet with fellow franchisees and share best practice.
Jamie has this advice for anyone thinking of going into franchising for the first time: “I would encourage anyone thinking of buying a franchise to go for it, but don’t underestimate the challenges that come with it.
“If you’re younger, like I was when I first became a franchisee, it’s a huge amount of responsibility to take on and you do have to make sacrifices - you can’t always go out with your mates or take impromptu trips.
“You have to be reliable and there for your team. But the rewards are fantastic too - you have a flexible lifestyle as you aren’t committed to a nine-to-five desk job and there’s huge variety in your day-to-day activity. “Ultimately, I have no regrets whatsoever about joining Subway and I love my work.”
