BRITAIN’S BEST FRANCHISE WINS £5,000 FROM HSBC

Media Release - 8 October 2004

Michael Roney, who operates the Driver Hire employment agency franchises in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, yesterday won the British Franchise Association’s 2004 Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by HSBC Bank and supported by the Daily Express.

In securing the national title, Michael also claimed a first prize of £5,000 donated by HSBC. The award was presented to him by Cathryn Hayes, HSBC’s national franchise manager, at a gala dinner at the ICC in Birmingham last night (7 October). HSBC has provided financial support and advice to franchisors and franchisees in the UK for over 20 years and has more than doubled its lending to the sector during the first half of 2004.

Speaking after the awards, Michael said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won this award. It’s a testament to all the hard work of our staff and to the success of the Driver Hire concept. I put this achievement down to keeping the workforce happy, offering customers a first class service and following the tried and tested business franchise formula.”

In presenting the awards, Cathryn Hayes, national franchise manager at HSBC, said: “Franchising gives people the opportunity to make the most of their entrepreneurial talent, but with fewer risks than starting their own business from scratch. As a leading lender to the franchise sector, HSBC recognises that the hard work, enthusiasm and business nous of people like Michael will help turn a good franchise into a great franchise. His business has excelled and he thoroughly deserves the title of Britain’s best franchise.”

Michael says that being part of a franchised organisation, which is recognised as a national brand, has helped secure new contracts. His success has seen him build a multi-million pound business in just nine years. He already has an annual turnover of £4.75m and has ambitious plans to double it in five years to £10m.

He says he has a hands-on approach to running his business and despite his multi-million pound empire still finds time to get his hands on the wheel now and then to do the odd delivery.

Driver Hire claims that the UK’s road transport industry currently faces a massive manpower shortage and that an estimated 47,000 new drivers need to be recruited. He says that his policy of looking after his workforce has proved beneficial and this is one of the reasons why he has been able to beat his competitors.

Michael said: “We need to make driving a more attractive job and I would like to see more women coming forward. Last year I paid more than 1000 drivers, but we still need more.”

After spending 20 years as a civil engineer, Michael felt that he had gone as far as he could in the field. He first started a small financial services business, but realised the advantages of going into business via the franchise route.

Driver Hire appealed to him because it operated in a niche franchise and the business concept was tried and tested. He says that franchising provided him with a framework for success.

Driver Hire now has a £70m annual turnover and a thriving network of 118 franchised offices. It says that franchising has enabled it to beat competition for the past 20 years.

The theme for this year’s awards was “Beating the Competition – How Franchising Makes A Difference.” The Awards are judged by a panel chaired by the British Franchise Association’s president, Sir Bernard Ingham.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The British Franchise Association Awards reward franchisees that demonstrate outstanding commercial achievement through ethical franchising and are sponsored by HSBC Bank and the Daily Express. The theme of this year’s competition is “Beating the Competition” – How Franchising Makes A Difference”.
2. Other winners in this year’s awards were:

   Joint 2nd place, Jack Glen from McDonald’s, Hamilton;
   Joint 2nd place, Simon Stack from Snap-on Tools, York;
   3rd place, Adam and Ruth Brenner, Prontaprint, Newcastle.

   The following were highly commended by the British Franchise Association, HSBC Bank and the Daily Express:
   Mark Meredith from Apollo Blinds, Stoke-on-Trent; Craig Collins from Cartridge World, Exeter, Exmouth and Plymouth; John Murray from Cash Generator, Airdrie and Wishaw; Robert Bates from Clarks Shoes, Abergavenny, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil and Exmouth; Ian Michael and Richard Ball from Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, Neath Abbey, and; David and Jacqui Henshaw from National Schoolwear Centres, Swindon.

3. The HSBC Group HSBC Bank plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, and a member of the HSBC Group. Serving over 110 million customers worldwide, the HSBC Group has approximately 10,000 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,154 billion at 30 June 2004, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.
4. For further press information on HSBC’s support for franchising and/or an interview with Cathryn Hayes please contact: Alex Bellinger, Media Relations Manager, HSBC on 020 7991 0654.
5. To contact Michael Roney please call 01604 670199.