Mac Tools has welcomed four new franchisees to its family of business owners, including the youngest person to ever start in the network and a second that’s just turned 21.

At 19 years old, Keiran Smith becomes one of the UK’s youngest franchisees after launching his business in Evesham – but it’s still a move he’s been planning for some time!

He explained: “I was a mechanic and had experience of dealing with Mac and other brands. The quality of service provided by Mac was so good – as soon as I walked on the van, I knew it was what I wanted to do, and that was when I was 16! So I’ve been building up to it for a few years, taking my time to research properly and be sure this was the right opportunity for me.”

“I wanted to get started while I was young. The people are just so supportive, from the general manager down, they’ve been so friendly and helpful. I’ve never been on my own.”

He’s joined by Harry Lord, who turned 21 shortly after starting his franchise in Hemel Hempstead. He agreed that the level of support offered by Mac Tools and the passion of the team to help franchisees succeed mean his age is irrelevant.

“I feel like I could call 16 people in the next half an hour and they’d all answer and give me any support necessary,” he says. “They couldn’t have done more to help me out, to put me at ease. I’ve never felt alone once. Great to Work With is much more than just a slogan to Mac, it’s exactly how they go about things.”

Harry says he wanted to take charge of his earnings. “Now, the amount I work determines the benefits I get, I’m in control of my own rewards. I was great at my former customer service role, but I couldn’t earn more than anyone else doing the same thing, no matter how good I was.”

The pair underwent training with two more experienced operators: Paul O’Brien in West Drayton and former pub landlord Nick Cobb, who has taken on the Reading North territory.

Nick said: “I looked into Mac Tools for quite some time, how the company works and how franchisees operate, and decided it was definitely something I wanted to get involved in. Having been my own boss for so long, I couldn’t see myself working for somebody else, and I liked the idea of being supported in business.”

“I don’t see this being so different to the pub trade – it’s about being a people person, and I’m good at making relationships with new people quickly. The support, from the promotional marketing to the training, has been second to none. I’ve made the right decision and I’m looking forward to getting out to more and more garages and growing my business.”