James Craven – Driver Hire Bournemouth

James Craven was in his early 30s and enjoying a successful career as a change management consultant in Switzerland when he decided to return to the UK to run his own business.

Having done some initial research into franchising, James attended The National Franchise Exhibition in the autumn of 2015. There, he made initial enquiries with several exhibiting franchise brands, but his main focus was on Driver Hire with it being an award-winning management franchise.

James explains: “I’d heard good things about the Driver Hire franchise opportunity from an acquaintance who’d already experienced success with them. At the exhibition stand, I had a great conversation with Graham Duckworth, Driver Hire’s Franchise Sales Director, and he was able to answer all my questions and more.”

By summer 2016 James owned and was running the Driver Hire Bournemouth office. James comments: “I enjoy the independence of running my own business – the planning, decision making and leading the team I have built – but I’ve benefited from the ready-made formula a franchise offers.

“I’ve also made the most of the training and support on offer from head office and network of over one hundred other franchised offices. This has compensated for any lack of knowledge and experience my team and I have in the transport and logistics sector.”

James continues: “We receive regular visits from a dedicated area development manager, and my team and I attend training workshops every couple of months, where further knowledge and experience is shared among the franchisee network.”

James summarises: “Owning a franchise has been a fantastic experience for me. I’ve found it liberating, and I feel motivated like never before.

“I’ve got an asset I am increasing the value of and I reap the rewards of my own hard work. It’s very satisfying that my team also benefit from our success; they are on the journey too!”

 

If you’d like to find out how you could follow in James’ footsteps, meet the Driver Hire team at The National Franchise Exhibition on 4 & 5 October 2019 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information about the event, and to book free tickets, please visit FranchiseInfo.co.uk