A true success

Investment Required from £32,500 + VAT

One year ago John and Yvonne Webber opened their Bluebird Care office in Lincoln, providing care for people in their own home and they have never looked back.

Coming from combined backgrounds in senior management and childcare, they wanted a business that not only could combine both of their skill sets, but could also satisfy their desire to be able to give something back, while developing a profitable business for them.

“We have just completed our first 12 months and it’s been a whirlwind,” says John. “We have 74 customers and a team of 40 care staff completing 2,700 visits a month and growing daily. We have followed the Bluebird Care model and it just works.”

Having previously used the Bluebird Care service for a family member in another part of the country, Yvonne and John had first-hand experience of the quality care that Bluebird Care provides. They also became fully aware just what an impact care has on family life.

“We spent several months exploring the market and mystery shopping the Lincoln area. This convinced us that this was an area that required a quality domiciliary care provider.”

At 52, John took early retirement and used his pension to partly fund the business in its start-up phase. “I have been the director of several large businesses but have never run a company by myself, however, Bluebird Care’s start-up support and training was great, we had support all the way and the Regional Business Development Manager provides us with ongoing advice and guidance going forward.”

In fact business has gone so well, John and Yvonne applied and were accepted for a second franchise territory. Plans are well underway for the opening of their second office in their new territory next month. “We are so convinced by Bluebird Care and the business model, we have invested even further in the brand,” enthuses John.

Bluebird Care is the largest care management franchise in the UK, where franchise owners recruit and manage a team of care staff to provide care at home. “Although we operate in a huge and growing market, you must also be good at what you do – a big market does not guarantee success,” states Franchise Recruitment Manager, Annetta Doyle. “We are very clear about the profile of our franchise owners. Good people management skills, a passion to want to provide a high quality of care and an ability to develop a successful business, are just some of the skills and qualities we seek.”

Bluebird Care currently has a network of some 162 offices in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The company continues to attract high quality applicants for the franchise.

“However,” continues Annetta, “There are still franchise opportunities remaining in many parts of the country and with the advantage that the Bluebird Care brand is now well known for providing a high quality of care – our reputation goes before us. This means that our new franchises are getting off to very fast starts.”

The Bluebird Care brand now provides over £70 million worth of care at home annually in the UK. The network of franchises offices provides approximately 4.5 million care visits annually, providing support, not only to older people, but also to people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and to children and their families. Care can range from visits once, twice or more daily right through to Live-in Care.

With the astonishing progress the company have made since launching the franchise in 2006 the future looks bright, “We are passionate about our franchise owners success – without them we have no business. The Bluebird Care business model is a true win-win situation,” concludes Annetta.