Sandra Redmond of Molly Maid wins Franchisee of the Year
 Gold Award:
Sandra Redmond of Molly Maid |
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Sandra Redmond of Molly Maid was named Gold Winner of the 2009 bfa/HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards, supported by Express Newspapers; gaining not just the coveted title, but also a cheque for £5,000 courtesy of HSBC.
Sandra Redmond, who has held the Wimbledon Molly Maid franchise for over 14 years, impressed the judging panel by demonstrating how she has achieved ‘Success in Challenging Times’ – the theme of this year’s Awards.
Combining her own expertise with her franchisor’s 25 years of business experience, she has succeeded in strengthening her performance with a focussed plan of action and a new office line up to enhance sales, customer service and training skills.
At a time when many customers might have been tempted to switch to cheaper suppliers, Sandra ensured her cleaning tea 
Silver Award:
Tamsin Brewis of Water Babies |
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ms offered a heightened level of service to retain the loyalty of existing customers. Regular quality checks were implemented to make sure standards were maintained.
Tamsin Brewis, of Water Babies (Banbury), was named the Silver Award Winner, gaining a cheque for £3,000. Tamsin, who is passionate about the importance of teaching young children to swim in a safe, fun environment, bought her franchise in 2004 and, since then, has steadily built up the business. She has been particularly successful in increasing her client base since the first hints of an economic downturn emerged in 2007.
Strategies developed to combat the tougher economic environment include enhanced customer service, partnerships with community organisations, the introduction of achievement certificates and a staff incentive scheme.
Mark Fordham, of TaxAssist Accountants (Harpenden), walked away with the Bronze Award and a cheque for £2,000. Mark has met challenges head on, initiating a number of pro-active measures. Working closely with the network’s Additional 
Bronze Award:
Mark Fordham of TaxAssist Accountants |
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Services Partners, he has increased revenue from his existing client base by cross-selling services such as insurance, debt recovery and employment advice. He has also launched his first shop-front, increasing visibility and accessibility when many others are keeping a low profile, and is expanding his franchise territory to include Hemel Hempstead and nearby areas.
Staff and training remain a key focus for the business, with regular courses, update days and online learning facilities available to help staff develop their skills and keep up to date with changing regulations.
The Finalists:
These national annual awards highlight the outstanding efforts, achievements and stories of the top franchisees in the UK. With 34,600 franchisee businesses operating in the UK today, the achievement of even being listed as one of the ten national finalist is a huge accolade for the individuals involved.
The ten finalists were:
Julia Levene of
Mike Smith of
Sandra Redmond of
Tim & Karen Lester of
Surjit & Balvinder Dhillion of
Sarah Skelton of
David & Anne Hitch of
Mark Fordham of
Tamsin Brewis of
Kieran Greene & Beverley Watts of
All ten of these businesses have shows outstanding business acumen and passion, all complimenting this year’s theme: Success in Challenging Times.
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