Nigel Stead is the new franchise owner for Ipswich and we asked him a few questions about his new venture…

What area will you be covering?
My franchise will cover whole of Ipswich.

What type of client will be your main focus?
Ipswich is flooded with standard taxis, as an example the largest company has over 200 drivers on their books! Consequently taxi prices are very competitive and so rather than try to compete with the average transportation service I want to aim for consistently good customer service at a slightly higher price, so that I can give my clients a more tailored experience. Ideally, this would include accompanying on trips like medical/shopping appointments but also on outings to local landmarks and events.

What is your background?
My background has always dealt with people. Specifically I led large regional teams in London with retailers like Woolworths and Sainsburys and more recently I supported teams at Learn Direct to provide training to help unemployed people get back into work.

What were your motivations behind opening a Driving Miss Daisy franchise?
I know a lot of people who work in care, including my partner who is a nurse in a dementia/palliative care home, so I recognise the good work done in the sector. I also believe my empathy and desire to help improve peoples’ lives will make a positive difference in the local community. And believe me, I won’t miss my 20+ hours just getting to/from work every week!