Expense Reduction Analysts' New Consultant of the Year credits his success with putting the customer first. Andrew Robertson, who was awarded the title, joined Expense Reduction Analysts in order to fulfil a life-long ambition of being self-employed.

Andrew said: "I had always wanted to be my own boss. I had worked in blue chip companies for 20 years, but even being MD didn't feel like I was really running my own business. Several years ago, I looked at various franchise opportunities, including Expense Reduction Analysts. But then, I received an offer I really couldn't refuse in the construction industry where I built my career.

"Then, in 2007-8, the industry began to feel the onset of the recession, as it tends to do, before other sectors and I looked again at working for myself. Out of all the opportunities I considered franchising was the most attractive with so much already in place and, out of the franchise opportunities, Expense Reduction Analysts stood out. The brand was strong: all the tools were in place; the network was there to support me. Meeting the Group Office team and other franchise owners merely confirmed all these positives. In the end, it was an easy decision to make."

For Andrew there are many benefits to owning an Expense Reduction Analysts franchise including the backing of a strong brand and the support network in place. However, Andrew explains that he values the flexibility the business brings most of all: "It is really up to me where I take my business and there is such a lot of scope in what we do. There is variety in the day-to-day activities; on a larger scale, there are different types of client to win and manage, and different sectors to explore."

Andrew believes that it was the attitude with which he runs his business that earned him the title of New Consultant of the Year, he commented: "My attitude has always been to put the customer first and this is very much the whole network's approach. That has enabled me to hit the ground running, and to generate a good level of leads in the early months, and to convert a high percentage of them into customers already. I have 34 projects signed up so far.

"The last year has been hard work, but I have enjoyed it so much. I couldn't have asked for more. I have made many excellent contacts in the network, and some real close friends too. I am genuinely excited about where this will take me, about the opportunities to take my business to the next level, and the challenges that it will entail."

Published: 24 August 2009

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