Partner Article

Franchise Focus: WPA, Hull

Established in 1901, WPA is a not-for-profit organisation providing health insurance solutions to businesses of all sizes, the self-employed and other professionals. It focuses on exceptional customer service and innovative products that provide value for money to over quarter of a million people. Their franchisees give advice and guidance to people and businesses in their local community to help find the best healthcare solution for them.

Sally Harvey is WPA’s franchisee for Hull and the surrounding area, having joined the network in 2006. Like many franchisees, her professional history is radically different from her current business, so we caught up with her to find out more about her experiences of running a franchise.

Tell us a little about your background Sally?

Managing a family at a young age, I worked flexible hours in various roles within retail in the early years of my working life. Twelve years later, searching for a challenge and better earnings, I took a gamble, leaving my safe retail job to sell gas and electric door-to-door in all weathers (crazy, I know!).

This definitely was tough but helped build my confidence and taught me a valuable lesson in perseverance. Bizarrely, 18 months later, this role brought about an introduction to a WPA regional director – and franchising.

What attracted you to take the decision to run a WPA business?

I was attracted to WPA’s ethics as a not-for-profit organisation; their focus is very much for putting the customer first, which tied in with my retail/customer service background. My husband also had private medical insurance via his work which he had used many times, benefiting from prompt treatment at a local private hospital – so I had seen personally the rewards of having it.

Was it difficult to start a business in a new sphere?

Yes, but the support provided by my franchisor head office team is exceptional. My journey as a WPA franchisee started in February 2006. Working from home I was my own boss, managing my own diary. I started my business with no customers, so to build the business I had to again persevere and ‘knock on some doors’, while simultaneously networking with many local business organisations.

Regarding my own personal development, WPA provides me with great training, support and access to the latest technologies to assist in growing my business. I am also involved in mentoring new franchisees coming into the business, allowing me to share my own experiences with others.

And how have things progressed?

Just over 7 years later I now have an office in Barton-on-Humber managed by two of my team, Sabrina and Angela, as I recognise my strengths are not in administration but in getting out and about looking after existing customers and meeting new prospects.

My client base stands at just over 1,700, the majority of them self-employed, professionals and companies of all sizes. As a franchisee and business owner myself I have empathy with other businesses; I understand what challenges they face and this helps when advising on their health insurance needs. My customers have been very supportive and have referred me on to their colleagues, friends and families.

I now have clients as far north as Glasgow and as far south as Jersey!

For more information on any aspect of franchising, visit the British Franchise Association website, www.thebfa.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Stafford .