Customer and candidate vote puts Belfast in top spot
The Maxwells – that’s Diane, brother Danny and daughter Danielle – are the family behind the ongoing success of Driver Hire’s franchised office in Belfast.
Their outstanding business performance has earned them a national award – the ‘2017 Family Business of the Year Awards, People’s Choice, North of England & Northern Ireland’ category. They also collected sufficient votes to come second nationally.
Working as a family clearly suits the Maxwells; Driver Hire Belfast is one of the best performing franchised offices in Driver Hire’s nationwide network. The Maxwells have just completed four record years on the trot, with turnover passing the £2m mark for the first time in 2016/17. The business supplies around 120 customers and finds work for around 50 drivers a day.
Diane bought the business in 2012 after managing it for the previous owner. Her brother Danny bought into the business in 2014.
The awards are organised by Family Business United, a resource for family businesses of all sizes and sectors, with the key aim of raising the profile of the family business sector. Commenting on Driver Hire Belfast’s success, Paul Andrews founder of Family Business United said: “We were delighted to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses. Some have succeeded for several generations and others are relatively young. What they have in common are great values at the heart of everything they do.”
Diane Maxwell from Driver Hire Belfast added: “What is doubly pleasing about winning the ‘People’s Choice’ award is that it was our clients and drivers who put us there. I certainly think that the family element of our business plays a big role in our success. When I introduce Driver Hire I always tell them we’re a family business. It’s something we’re immensely proud of and always has a positive reception. The Maxwells are a highly driven unit, keen to succeed – and that’s what we’re doing!”
Top Picture: L-R: Paul Andrews (Family Business United), Diane Maxwell and Danielle Crawford
Bottom Picture: The Driver Hire Belfast Team: Diane Maxwell, her brother Danny, daughter Danielle and cousin Helen Alcorn
