Tina Kemp, Hampshire

The diversity of the job keeps me focused

I launched my WPA franchise in 2003 having spent many years in the IT industry and looking for a change of direction. My only regret has been that I didn't do it earlier. My healthcare provider was WPA so I approached them about owning a franchise. I attended the initial one week residential training course, which covers the range of WPA products through to sales and networking skills and developing the first year's plan. I was then appointed a mentor for two years to help me with my business and in fact I'm now a mentor myself.

WPA has a very well established support programme for its franchisees, including regular meetings and training, dedicated helpdesks at head office, a two year on the ground mentoring programme and a regional office, all provided at no extra charge to the franchisee.

As a WPA franchisee I enhance my income further through achieving growth, not sales, targets and customer retention. I'm currently on target and my average annual growth is 76 per cent. Earnings are dependent upon the individual but it is not unheard of to earn the franchisee fee back in the first couple of months.

I'm planning to continue to grow and develop my business. My husband John bought a WPA franchise about 18 months ago and although we operate different territories we now run the businesses as one limited company.