“Having studied an MBA, I was familiar with the concept of franchising but I didn’t know much about the detail until I began considering the opportunity with Jackson Fire and Security. Once I’d done my research I realised the benefits of the franchise they were offering.”

Following his career in the RAF, Tom Fletcher was looking for a new challenge. He was interested in starting his own business but recognised he lacked the necessary commercial experience and knew, at least in the early days, he’d need quite a bit of support.

Having worked in military security and then spent some time with Jackson Fire and Security, Tom became interested in the possibility of taking on a franchise with them. He explains, “Having studied an MBA, I was familiar with the concept of franchising but I didn’t know much about the detail until I began considering the opportunity with Jackson Fire and Security. Once I’d done my research I realised the benefits of the franchise they were offering.”

Tom launched his Cambridge-based franchise in March 2015 and very quickly realised the importance of being flexible and capable of dealing with a broad range of business activities. “You’re advising, selling, account managing, promoting – there’s a lot of variety. But you don’t have to possess every skill yourself. If you’re happy bringing on board and managing a team then you can put together the right blend of skills that way.”

He stresses the importance of getting out and about and promoting the business straight away. “Be realistic about how long it will take to grow your franchise. You must be prepared to accept it’ll need time to build up (and be financially ready for that). You have to find new business which means you do need to be a fairly confident person. You’ll be cold calling and going to networking events. You must continually follow up leads and maintain and develop contacts. If you expect the work to just fall into your lap – well, it won’t. But being persistent definitely pays off.”

In Tom’s case a large contract won by Jackson Fire and Security gave his business a big boost as well as a taste for success. “The thing I like most about what I’m doing now? Making a big sale!” he says. “And the fact that, as the business grows and the client base builds, I’m creating something that has the capacity to expand. The franchise has huge potential and if you are determined and focused you’ll be successful.”