Right at Home franchisee Sam Wright, nominated for EWIF’s Franchisee of the Year Award, tells how she and her husband built an Outstanding rated homecare business from a career ‘disaster.’
When Sam Wright learned there was no option to return to her finance role after maternity leave, panic set in.
“It was absolutely devastating – I’d just had my first child, so my hormones where everywhere and it had a huge impact on my confidence.
“I just had to say to myself ‘Right – I’ve got a chunk of money; I’m going to have to make that work for me. It was all about turning that really awful, negative emotion into something positive.”
Sam agreed to her husband Danny investigating business ownership, but it was only when a franchise consultant recommended the care sector that she felt excited by the idea.
“They assessed us and came up with business models we should be well suited to. I worked in a care home when I was young, and I absolutely loved it. So when MatchPoint came up with Right at Home, I said ‘that’s the one!’”
Four and a half years later, Sam and Danny employ 45 people and have an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission. In December 2020 they hit £1million annualised turnover and Sam and her Registered Manager Suzie Long were both named as finalists in the EWIF Awards.
“Suzie is really motivated about driving the business onwards; she’s had a fantastic impact since she joined us and I’m so proud of her award nomination.”
So how are Sam’s confidence levels now? She laughs: “There’s a saying that your first million pounds is the hardest and the second comes easier, and that’s how I’m feeling now – yes, elated; but also confident we can really push forward from here.”
