Rob Simpson’s decision to give up his role as a senior account manager for Yellow Pages to launch his own Drain Doctor Plumbing business covering Cambridge has proved a double-winner. Last year he was named most progressive new franchise at the national group’s annual awards ceremony. This year he has scooped a national award for sustained business growth.
Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented Rob and his wife Sam with their trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges.
The larger a franchisee’s turnover becomes the more difficult it is to sustain a high rate of annual growth. The High Base Growth Award recognises this situation. It is presented to franchisees who have achieved growth from a high base.
Freddie Mitman said: “These awards all recognise special achievements in the franchise network.
“This year’s High Base Growth award winner takes the Drain Doctor service ethic to new heights and has sometimes amazed his customers with his tenacity in getting the job done.
“A little over three years ago this husband and wife team purchased an already successful area. Driving it forwards they saw a significant increase in growth in 2011. They took on the challenging task of building on the success of what was one of Drain Doctor’s most successful franchises and was the first business in the Drain Doctor network to reach a £1 million annual turnover.”
Rob said: “Drain Doctor’s success in Cambridge has come from offering local businesses and householders ‘dazzling’ levels of service in an industry that is plagued by ‘cowboy’ operators.”
Rob launched his franchise in November 2009. He provides a wide range of plumbing and drainage repairs, including high-pressure jetting, ‘no-dig’ drain re-lining and closed circuit camera surveys.
Rob and Sam more than achieved their target turnover during 2011 in spite of the recession and now have plans for further growth in 2012.
“Joining Drain Doctor Plumbing was most definitely the best thing I have done,” Rob said. “I investigated other franchise options when we decided to launch a new business and was impressed by Drain Doctor Plumbing’s professionalism.
“I plan to continue to grow the business in a controlled and sustained way but despite the recession I don’t intend to hold back on investment.
“I opted to join Drain Doctor because the company has a real focus on customer service. I can be an independent operator running my own business but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a national organisation.”
Rob was inspired to take on the business by one of his main clients at Yellow Pages. When he found out that the Cambridge franchise was for sale – because the existing franchisee was retiring – he jumped at the chance to run his own business.
Freddie Mitman said: “Rob and his great team have fully absorbed the Drain Doctor ethos of delivering exceptional standards of customer service.”
Launched in the United Kingdom in 1993, Drain Doctor Plumbing quickly grew to become the country’s largest emergency plumbing and drain repair service. It now provides a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service covering the UK and the Republic of Ireland, with each franchise run as an independent business.