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Why Automotive Franchising is a Smart Fit for Former
Military Personnel Finding employment can be a challenge for many military personnel as they transition from active duty, yet hundreds of veterans have found success through franchising.
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ut it’s no surprise that so many exforces have taken the leap into automotive franchising, as there are so many transferable skills. Pat Badder, owner of ChipsAway Grantham discovered the skills he had obtained in the army could be transferred into running his own car body repair business. “I joined the military in the 1970s, and completed tours in the First Gulf War, Northern Ireland and Bosnia. I was then commissioned into the Logistics Corps and did tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. I took redundancy in 2011 and moved straight into the Reserves where I did another eight years and finished up at the rank of Major.” “I was into my last year of the Reserves when I happened to see a ChipsAway van drive past and was intrigued. The idea of working for myself was very attractive to me – and I also wanted to learn new skills and provide a service.” “A ChipsAway franchise is tailormade for Forces people because you follow processes. You must practice equipment care and you have got to be disciplined with the repair process. It’s then just a case of getting your repair time down, I often thought I don’t think I can make that any quicker. But sure enough, in a month or two, the repair time goes down.” As well as equipment care and discipline, there are many more character attributes that can be transferred into running your own franchise business. DETERMINATION = SUCCESS Being in the military requires determination and confidence to succeed, similarly, to running your own business. Determination is required to ensure a franchise business witnesses growth and profitability. Andy Darby used the determination skills he had obtained in the British Army to start his own successful ChipsAway franchise.
COMMUNITY NETWORK Similarly, to the Armed Forces when you join a franchise network you are never alone. The systemisation and support network within franchising is very similar to the forces. Franchisees benefit from business, marketing and technical support, as well as the franchise community network. ChipsAway franchisee, Pat Badder has utilised head office and neighbouring franchisee support since he bought his franchise in March 2020. “It’s a fantastic network full of people that are willing to help you.”
64 Easy Resettlement Magazine Summer 2021
“I spent 11 years in the British Army prior to joining ChipsAway and all my skills and experience of running a business have been gained whilst operating my own franchise. Whilst I think my own standards and determination have been a driving force I have been learning on the job. Being a soldier gave me the skills to be successful and being a business owner has helped me realise that. Over the last 21 years I have continued to learn by attending training courses run by ChipsAway and working with others in the industry to help improve my knowledge.” EXECUTING A PLAN Although a franchise owner receives a proven business model and ongoing business support from the
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