Like a number of Auditel franchise owners, Alex Chewins had been self-employed before joining the cost and purchase management franchise.

Chewins, who joined Auditel last month, said: “Before joining Auditel, I purchased an ailing retail fireplace business for £2,000. Over an eight-year spell, I transformed it into a manufacturing and retail business supplying gas fires and stone fireplaces across the UK. During this time, we bought the freehold, which was sold for £300,000 – not bad for a £2,000 investment. This led me to my property business in 2004. I built this from scratch, to managing over 300 properties. It is still run by my wife today.”

Although Chewins was an experienced business owner when he joined the Auditel network, he still found the training provided useful. He said: “Having had a few knocks in the last 12 months of being in business, it’s difficult to come to a course without any preconceived ideas. The message at the beginning was: ‘Let go of everything that you think you know and take your foot off the gas’, and I did. I absolutely feel that my belief has gone through the roof. Although I still don’t know as much as I would like to know, I know enough to go and do the job. I am very positive.

“As a Managing Director with 20 years of successful trading, I learnt how to plan and survive in business; how to earn a living and how to generate profits and build a saleable asset. I absorbed at first-hand the value of cost control. Every penny counts and it allows you to compete. This is the knowledge I hope to share with my future Auditel clients.”

Edward Brewer, Auditel’s Franchise Development Director, added: “Auditel was nominated for the prestigious HSBC Franchisee Support Award in 2009 and 2010. This year, we are delighted that we have won it for, as the citation says, ‘the most innovative and inspirational franchisee support’. Franchising is a real choice for management professionals seeking a career change. Auditel is fully equipped to help them build their own enjoyable and successful business. Why not book your place at one of our Free Discovery Seminars? You can meet our Franchise Network Development Team and ask as many questions as you like. We shall enjoy meeting you.”

Published: 11 July 2012

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