Paul Nuth, founder of Driving Miss Daisy UK, gives us the lowdown
Where did the Driving Miss Daisy business originate?
It was first established in Canada and opened in New Zealand in 2009. Melanie Harper, along with her husband Jack, started the service in New Zealand.
Mel used to drive her elderly aunt Trish to various appointments, but not wishing to continuously impose on family life Trish paid for a companion to drive her at the times she found convenient, giving her independence and control and removing a feeling of indebtedness to her family.
Mel realised this was being repeated in other families and saw a business opportunity.
Driving Miss Daisy has been operating in the UK since early 2015.
What services does the business provide?
Driving Miss Daisy provides a trusted, safe and reliable driving and companion service for those who find it hard to get out and about.
The prime point of difference is that, more than just travelling from A to B, it provides companionship and assistance for the duration of each and every journey - for the elderly, children and people with disabilities, among many others.
Companion drivers collect clients, take them to and from their destination and provide personal assistance as required, with anything from medical appointments to shopping or to make social outings possible and, most of all, enjoyable.
How big is the demand for the company’s services?
It’s significant. There are currently 12 million people aged 65 or over in the UK and by 2036 that number will be over 20 million.
When people no longer drive, they often experience isolation, loneliness a lack of independence and family dislocation. There are in excess of 12 million people in the UK living with a disability, over 20 per cent of whom report difficulty in finding transportation.
The demand for this service comes not only from the clients themselves, but from family members who juggle careers, plus growing families of their own, alongside elderly parents and relatives who are often not in the same geographical area.
There are hundreds of thousands of people in the UK who experience this all the time and Driving Miss Daisy can help those who need that extra support and companionship to live their lives to the fullest, regardless of any physical or mental barriers. That’s why we use the phrase: ‘We are family when family can’t be there’.
What’s the role of a driving Miss Daisy franchisee?
This franchise attracts people who want to deliver a service to the community. Most do the driving and provide the companionship themselves, but some will employ additional companion drivers as they add more vehicles in their territory. Some run their business as a management franchise.
There are currently 35 franchises in the UK and there are opportunities throughout the UK, specifically in the north of England, North Wales, East Midlands, Essex, the south east and Scotland.
early 2015 in the UK
35
UK-wide
franchise licenses start at £5,000 (plus VAT), with total start-up costs starting in the region of £12,000 (licensing and vehicle deposit). Start-up costs vary depending on where you live
0333 0146211 drivingmissdaisy.co.uk