A former roofer left out of work by the downturn in the construction industry has become his own boss after signing up for a ‘try before you buy’ bin-cleaning franchise.
Craig Richardson was out of work for three months before he found out about the County Durham-based Be Franchising scheme, which allows people to start a franchise then buy the business once it is running profitably.
Mr Richardson, from Consett, has signed up more than 400 customers in the three months since he took on the VIP Bin Cleaning service for Derwentside, and is aiming to buy the franchise in the next 12 months.
He said: “As things slowed down in the building trade so did the demand for roofing services and I was left looking for work and taking on any temporary jobs going.
“It was at the local job centre that I saw the opportunity with Be Franchising and applied to take on the Derwentside franchise on a ‘try before you buy’ basis. Read full story.