Franchising is the target
MIDDLESBROUGH entrepreneur Jo Hand has revealed plans to expand her £1m recruitment business into a £5m operation by 2011, creating an extra 10-15 jobs.
Having built a client base of more than 150, Ms Hand plans to open a Darlington branch within two years and eventually run the business as a franchise operation throughout the UK.
She said: “Although there is talk of an economic downturn we are making good, consistent profits.
“A franchise would allow us to diversify our brand in the marketplace. There is the question of control, but we have strong audit procedures and a strong business model behind us”.
After working 18 years in the recruitment industry, Ms Hand established the business in 2006 and is going for £1.7m turnover in 2008-2009. Currently employing seven staff, the company supplies temporary and permanent workers to clients in the finance, administration, customer services, clerical, human resources and legal sectors. Ms Hand, who took redundancy when she was 40, telling the Evening Gazette at the time that she wanted to spend more time with her family, sought advice from the former Business Link Tees Valley. She made a personal investment of around £3,000, helped by husband Steve, who even gave her his car to replace her company BMW.
“Everything seemed to be at a crossroads, and then I realised it was an opportunity for a new stage in my life,” said Ms Hand.
“This way I could work nine to five, which would suit the whole family. For as long as I can remember I have worked long hours - mostly spent travelling. Leaving home before 7am and not returning until after nine meant I saw little of the family.”
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