Ex-military personnel find their future in franchising

Jackson Fire & Security is creating opportunities for all kinds of entrepreneurs

When people leave the armed forces, they have to make decisions about what comes next for them. Franchising isn’t an option that might immediately come to mind and yet it’s an opportunity that has real potential for individuals with that background.

And we know from experience just how successful they can be in franchising, as Sam Gale, who runs our Cambridge franchise, was formerly in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

A breadth of valuable abilities and skills

Ex-armed forces personnel have many of the traits and skills that are ideal in a franchisee, and they can draw on an extensive amount of experience to help them make a real success of their business.

A franchise owner needs to be driven, committed and hard-working and ex-military men and women are recognised for their incredible work ethic and ability to be resilient, determined and think clearly and calmly even if the pressure is on.

They’re disciplined decision makers who can keep focused on the goal at hand – ideal in the franchise industry. Ex-armed forces are typically great team players too but are also capable of confident and motivating leadership.

An ideal fit with franchising

Obviously, all of these skills are important in business in general, so what makes franchises a particularly good fit for ex-service personnel? It comes down to the fact that franchises enable an individual to be their own boss but also get all of the support and guidance necessary to make their business a success.

Some service leavers might be concerned that they don’t have enough commercial experience to be completely confident about setting up their own business from scratch. But a franchise offers the ideal balance of a business of its own within an already proven framework where all of the training and guidance are provided to get them up and running quickly. Plus, there’s support and advice available on an ongoing basis after their franchise has launched.

Are you looking for a new career that gives you a sense of purpose?

Our franchise is a great opportunity for those people who have already dedicated their careers thus far to the protection of others. After all, our entire business is devoted to keeping people and property safe and secure from threats such as fire and criminals.

For those who entered the military motivated by a desire to protect, our franchise offers a natural fit as franchisee Sam Gale comments: “Taking on the Jackson Fire & Security Cambridge franchise felt like a really good match for the skills and experiences I had gained from my career in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. I wanted to run a business that gave me a real sense of purpose and presented the opportunity to have a positive impact on others.

“When you’ve worked in the military, you know the importance of self-discipline, self-motivation and being adaptable which also really matters in the franchising sector. I enjoy the variety and challenge of what I’m doing now – if you’re focused, flexible and determined, you can make a real success of it.”

At a glance

Established:

1991

Number of franchised outlets:

10

Location of units:

North Wales, North West, Yorkshire, Teesside, Surrey & London

Investment range:

£39,500 franchise fee and £30,000 working capital provision

Minimum required capital:

£69,500

Contact:

rachel.evans@jacksonfire.co.uk