David Graham - Teesside
If you needed qualifications to become a Driver Hire franchisee then David Graham was made for the job. Prior to purchasing his Driver Hire franchise, David was Home Delivery Compliance Manager for B&Q with responsibility for 13 depots across the UK and Ireland. He also has a Logistics degree, a Masters degree in Human Resources and a Certificate of Professional Competence – an essential qualification for all managers working in transport and logistics.
His Middlesbrough-based franchise covers all of the Teesside area. David chose to move from the relatively safe world of employee to the more choppy waters of self employment for a number of reasons. “I’d always wanted to work for myself and buying a franchise is a less risky route. You buy into a proven business model with the full support of the franchisor. Of course if I do well, the rewards will be greater. I’d used Driver Hire in the past and they always impressed me. When it comes to hiring temporary drivers, they’re the ‘sleep easy’ option - supplying reliable and compliant drivers - which in an increasingly regulated industry can’t be valued too highly.”
He opened his business in the very first quarter of a recession. “It’s been a steep learning curve. The Foundation Course (part of the franchise package) and the support from network helped smooth the steepness,” says David. “Whilst delivering excellent service is key to success, this is a very sales oriented business. But, if you meet your turnover targets, it’s a very lucrative business. It can be hard work, but after just a year I can confirm that the rewards are far greater and much more satisfying than being an employee.”
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