Award-winning virtual outsourcing agency Get Ahead is delighted to welcome another new franchisee to its growing franchise network. Vicky McKenna will be running the Oxford region, helping businesses across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to get ahead.
After graduating with a degree in Business Studies, Vicky went on to enjoy a successful career in commercial buying, working for many well-known brands including Dixons, GAME, Ryman and H Samuel. But entrepreneurship was always in her blood, having grown up with both a mother and father who ran their own businesses.
Vicky said: “My dad ran a retail company and my mum had five hairdressing salons, so we always had a business family. I worked in the holidays in my dad’s business and grew up knowing that I always wanted to go into business. I really enjoyed my commercial buying career and worked on some fantastic projects for inspiring mentors like Theo Paphitis. He was great at spotting opportunities and whilst working for him I learnt a lot about consolidating businesses and bringing teams together.
I travelled the world but after 25 years of working for other people, I felt ready to do something for myself. I met Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead, at Flexpo. I was looking for a new challenge and a flexible working option that would allow me to spend more time with my son. I love trying new things and am not scared to just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway is definitely my motto. After several months of thinking about my experience in retail, buying, product development, product marketing, as well as managing teams of people with different skills, the Get Ahead franchise felt like the right next step.”
Over the next few months, Vicky is looking forward to meeting lots of new businesses at networking events in her local area of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Vicky added, “I have always been a troubleshooter. I love to solve problems and to help. I know there are many small businesses and entrepreneurs who are brilliant at what they do but don’t have time to concentrate on running their business, manage day-to-day tasks and make time for family and friends outside of work. The Get Ahead team can help support them to achieve their goals and spend more time on what they want to do, not what they feel they have to do. I have already been impressed with the great energy the Get Ahead team has and I know I am going to learn a lot from the other franchisees who are all hugely talented, empowered women running their own businesses.”
Rebecca Newenham added: “When I first met Vicky at Flexpo I could see that she could be a great fit for our team. We both started our careers in corporate buying in Sainsburys, and share a passion for branding and retail. We were also both inspired to run our own businesses after growing up with successfully self-employed mothers. I know she has the passion and drive to make her business a success and I am looking forward to mentoring her over the coming months.
We have already opened up three new regions this year with York and Harrogate, Manchester and Oxford and I am excited that our first international franchisee in Sydney, Australia will be launching soon. With our existing franchisees in Berkshire & North Hants, East Midlands, Surrey, Leeds, Suffolk & Essex, West London, and Wirral & Cheshire West, I am proud to lead our vibrant franchise network and champion flexible working.”
Get Ahead offers nationwide marketing and business support services enabling businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to get ahead. From bookkeeping to blogging, database management to design and telephone answering to Twitter, their team of highly skilled virtual business experts delivers support on an hourly, project or ongoing basis.
To find out more about franchising opportunities with Get Ahead contact Rebecca on rebecca@getaheadva.com or 01483 332220 for a copy of their free franchise prospectus.
