SCOTTISH MAN GENERATES SUCCESS AT FRANCHISE FINALS
Media Release - 11 October 2004
 John Murray, (44), who runs the Cash Generator franchises in Airdrie and Wishaw, won a highly commended certificate of merit in this year’s Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC Bank and supported by the Daily Express.
The award was presented to John by Cathryn Hayes, HSBC’s national franchise manager, at a gala dinner at the ICC in Birmingham last Thursday 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 2004.
Speaking after the awards, John said: “When I first looked into franchising I thought I could set something up from scratch. Looking back I’m pleased I went with Cash Generator because the support I’ve had and the soundness of the business formula has allowed me to concentrate on getting the very best from the business.”
In October 1999, after spending 23 years in the Armed Forces, John visited a franchise exhibition where he spotted a brilliant idea for recycling unwanted consumer goods. Intent on replicating the idea himself he set out to find out as much as he could before embarking on his own venture. However, after meeting Cash Generator’s founder, Brian Lewis, he soon recognised the size and complexity of the business and realised he could only proceed with the support of a proven franchisor behind him.
In presenting the award, 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 John will help turn a good franchise into a great franchise. He deserves his success.”
He says that funding the franchise was quite a challenge. He borrowed from his parents and the bank, but still needed more. It was when Brian Lewis lent him the £20,000 he needed that he was in business. John hasn’t looked back and his business is now turning over more than £1.5m a year.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The British Franchise Association Awards reward franchisees that demonstrate outstanding commercial achievement through ethical franchising and are sponsored by and the . The theme of this year’s competition is “Beating the Competition” – How Franchising Makes A Difference”.
- Other winners in this year’s awards were:
1st place, Michael Roney from , Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire;
Joint 2nd place, Simon Stack from , York;
Joint 2nd place, Jack Glen from , Hamilton;
3rd place, Adam and Ruth Brenner, , Newcastle.
The following were highly commended by the British Franchise Association, HSBC Bank and the Daily Express:
Mark Meredith from , Stoke-on-Trent; Craig Collins from , Exeter, Exmouth and Plymouth; John Murray from , Airdrie and Wishaw; Robert Bates from , Abergavenny, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil and Exmouth; Ian Michael and Richard Ball from , Neath Abbey, and; David and Jacqui Henshaw from , Swindon.
- 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’.
- 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.
- To contact Michael Roney please call 01604 670199.
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