Coconut Creatives founder, Sarah Cook undertook the first franchisee training seminar for client, Envos, earlier this month. Sarah has assisted the Envos team to recruit and train the first 5 new franchisees within just weeks of launching the franchise package.

With record breaking enquiries and contracts being won across the UK, this franchise has received an outstanding amount of interest from individuals wanting a new career in this market estimated to be worth in excess of £500 million. “Envos is a fantastic business and it is a pleasure to be working with such a talented team to help achieve their franchise recruitment objectives,” says Sarah.

The Envos business model responds to recent legislation changes. From January 1st 2009 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are required by law for all commercial buildings, with very few exceptions. Much like the ‘A, B, C’ energy efficiency ratings on household white goods, Envos franchisees respond to the new government legislation to provide similar ratings on commercial buildings.

Envos was initially looking for 20 individuals to fill regional franchise positions. With 5 franchisees now trained and operational this leaves just 15 places left. Regional franchisees purchase a large geographical area with opportunities to subdivide their region in the future and manage a team of energy assessors. Franchise Marketing will continue throughout the year until the remaining 15 places are filled.

The first Envos franchisees to be trained, learned how they could reach projected net profits amounting to £450K by the end of Year 2. The two day training course included a specialist marketing and PR seminar and franchisees left with a selection of marketing tools and knowledge to get their business started.

“This franchise offers all the added benefits of a national brand: national clients, technical help background, training, support and being the first to deliver new services,” explains Mark Doe who was the first to sign up.

The franchise zones now taken include Kent, Devon, Somerset and the whole of Scotland. With over 216,000 audits estimated to be required in the next few months alone, Envos already has demand in place for the additional 15 regional franchisees that come onboard.

Yet Envos founder Wade Barker warns franchise seekers to do their research whatever franchise they are considering: “Be confident that the market is there for whatever franchise you are looking at. Don’t just take the word of the franchisor.”

For further information about Envos and to reserve your franchise zone call 0845 6434954 email franchise@envos.co.uk
To request information about franchise recruitment, franchise marketing or franchisee marketing, contact Sarah Cook at Coconut Creatives on 01963 31030 or email sarah@coconutcreatives.co.uk.

Sarah Cook from Coconut Creatives undertaking the Envos training session

Pilot Franchise Opportunity in your area!

Coconut Creatives have been working with Whizz Bang Pop, the national children’s entertainment business to assist them to launch its franchise operation.

This franchise is ideal for people who do not want a 9 – 5 job behind a desk. It is for individuals that enjoy working with children where every day is different and brings new challenges and rewards.

Whizz Bang Pop is a children’s entertainment business with an established network of entertainers throughout the UK operated from its head office in Brighton. With over 4 years of trading history, Whizz Bang Pop has proved its business model is sustainable and reliable in a range of economic conditions, in providing entertainment for children aged 3 – 12 years old.

This is a BRAND NEW franchise looking for just TWO individuals to operate a pilot franchise within their area. A pilot franchise is the same as a normal franchise, just with an exceptionally low fee! Whizz Bang Pop will offer significant opportunities for the right individuals to completely change their lifestyle and have fun every day through entertaining children. Individuals can also consider operating a Whizz Bang Pop franchise as a management business with a network of their own entertainers.

Established in 2005 as a premier children’s entertainment business, Whizz Bang Pop is looking for enthusiastic, friendly and outgoing individuals to develop the Whizz Bang Pop children’s entertainment brand in their own area.

“The two pilot franchisees will be fully trained using our proven systems and entertainment techniques. We will only be looking for a small number of franchisees initially so that we can provide them with an excellent level of care,” explains Sally Davis, Managing Director.

The franchise package includes comprehensive training, support and an operations manual. Franchisees will launch with an integrated marketing campaign including a promotional launch! Leads are partly generated through the Whizz Bang Pop HQ and passed on to the franchisee within the area.

“What other job could encompass my three favourite things: fancy dress, singing and being silly? It is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had,” Elena Kyriacou, Whizz Bang Pop Entertainer, Sussex.

The Whizz Bang Pop package also includes an exclusive set of costumes, designed for Whizz Bang Pop by Renaissance Designs and custom made for each franchisee. “It is vital that Whizz Bang Pop costumes are unique and endearing. A Whizz Bang Pop children’s party is an experience like no other and the children really believe that they have met a fairy, princess or pirate!” adds Sally.

Exclusively for the first 2 pilot franchisees, the franchise fee is heavily reduced to just £7,595!

This includes FULL training, launch, operations manual and exceptional support from the experienced management team. Training includes shadowing a current Whizz Bang Pop entertainer, so you will feel completely comfortable and confident when the time comes to do it alone! For those looking for a challenging and fulfilling new career working with children, with flexible hours to suit your lifestyle and commitments, this is the franchise for you!

For a prospectus contact Whizz Bang Pop on 08450 17 10 77 or email franchise@whizzbangpop.co.uk

For further information about how Coconut Creatives can assist you to launch or grow your franchise or business, please contact Sarah Cook at Coconut Creatives on 01963 31030

This is the latest article published by Nick Strong at Select Your Franchise, friends of Coconut Creatives.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee or EFG has been released by the government to help the banks to fund small and medium size businesses. This is good news for everyone thinking about buying and building their own franchise business in the UK. EFG replaces the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme.

The Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme capped lending to £250,000 and was very much focused on the small business. The government has identified that small and medium size business is in urgent need off access to capital at this time and has extended provision to medium size business as well as small.

Under the EFG scheme the government will guarantee 75% of any loans made, with the bank covering the remaining 25%. The guarantees will mean that the government, or taxpayers, will pick up three-quarters of the the tab for any bad loans.
In total, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme will see the Government provide £1 billion of guarantees to support £1.3 billion of bank lending.

At a recent British Franchise Association (BFA) forum of franchisors and franchise suppliers Launa Smith of HSBC franchise department shared the following information about the government’s new Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme could be the right solution for you if you are a business customer:
looking to increase your working capital
looking to start up, expand or diversify your business
Key features and benefits of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme are that it is:
a government guarantee which secures bank loans to any viable business with a sound borrowing proposal
available for sums of £10,000 to £1,000,000 – a £10,000 minimum is available to limited companies and a £25,000 minimum is available to sole traders and partnerships excluding LLPs.

The loan can be repaid over any period between three months and ten years, individually negotiated interest rates choice of fixed and varied interest rates a quarterly premium is payable to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).  The guarantee covers 75% of each qualifying loan. But for whom is the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme available?

The EFG is available for you if your business has an annual turnover of less than £25,000,000. Your business must trade and be based in the UK. Your main business activity must be in a sector approved by the BERR and the purpose of the loan must meet the BERR’s eligibility criteria, for example:
starting trading – new start up funding carries a 1.5% premium
developing a project
expanding an existing business
purchase of equipment
business will not exceed the European Community State Aid maximum, as a result of taking out an Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.

The key objective of the EFG is to help provide liquidity and business development capital to existing viable companies. A comprehensive business plan is required when applying for an EFG loan via the banks.

If a company already has a Small Loan Guarantee they can still quality for a EFG loan.
All loans are subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information have a look at www.hsbc.co.uk/business and www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp.
To research business format franchise opportunities in the UK visit www.SelectYourFranchise.co.uk and www.Business-Opportunities.net.

Coconut Creatives is proud to announce the launch of one of its latest clients, Drain Away.
Drain Away is one of the South’s premier plumbing and drainage companies having been trading successfully since 1990.  However, the company was not always this impressive size or shape.  It was very much the brainchild of Jason Carpenter, who started the company as the original “one man and his van”, shortly after having completed his apprenticeship.

Having successfully built the company up from nothing, aside from hard work and commitment, Jason and his team at Drain Away are looking for like-minded individuals rather than trained plumbers to share in their ambitious expansion plans for 2009.

Drain Away offers all their franchisees a comprehensive three-week training programme.  The training programme, which is held in their HQ in Bournemouth, Dorset, has been specifically developed for the needs of the novice plumber.

Coconut Creatives Marketing Specialists, Victoria Bel Gil and Sarah Cook have been working with the directors to prepare for the launch by creating a franchise recruitment marketing plan. “The Drain Away franchise offers so much, including an incredible 15 day training programme,” explains Victoria.

The Franchisee fifteen-day training programme includes an induction to the Drain Away team and their customer service charter.   Franchisees are then taken step by step through what’s involved in the marketing and recruitment of new customers.  They learn about the enquiry to invoice administration system that Drain Away have developed to ensure franchisees will definitely not be distracted from making money by lengthy administration processes.

The majority of the training involves developing practical skills in drainage and plumbing.  In addition to learning the techniques in the traditional classroom setting each franchisee will spend 5 days reviewing and practicing at the Drain Away on-site plumbing and drain practice areas which include a real life residence with mocked up plumbing mishaps to fix and dummy drainage system to practice unblocking drains with the onboard van jetter and CCTV cameras.

Following training at the Drain Away’s Head Office, the franchisee will spend time with a Drain Away Operative, attending jobs, giving them a taste of what it will be like running their own Drain Away Franchise.

“A strong feature of the Drain Away franchise is the support they offer franchisees. For example included in the training package is 3 full days on site shadowing with a Drain Away senior member of staff to accompany franchisees to jobs with the option of further days at an additional charge. There will always be someone at the end of a phone able to give advice, if required,” explains Franchise Your Business Consultant, Tim Mott who has prepared the business package for the franchise market.

Unlike so many other opportunities Drain Away does not have to rely upon a good economy to grow, much of their work is a distress purchase or insurance driven response, so their clients have a need and they chose the most responsive and customer friendly service – which is Drain Away.

Jason explains why,
“We don’t feel the doom and gloom of the credit crunch as many of our customers purchase because they have an emergency or because they are making an insurance claim and they know they are dealing with professionals”.

Drain Away are keen to hear from individuals that can be both hands on and manage a business; no former plumbing experience is required.  Drain Away would love to hear from you if you feel you could be the person to help them in 2009, develop into your local area. Maybe you’re worried about your future or just fancy a challenge…but most of all maybe you want to earn some serious money!