Back in October, we shared the news that the latest Jackson Fire and Security branch had launched in Bromley, headed up by Sam Bradley. We caught up with Sam to find out more about how it’s been going since then.
What attracted you to the Jackson Fire and Security franchise opportunity?
I was looking to find an ideal balance that would meet my personal career ambitions and make use of my experience, while also providing a stable routine and structure but with plenty of flexibility – something that’s really important to me as the father of two young children. When I came across the Jackson Fire opportunity, I felt it could fit my aspirations really well and help me achieve the lifestyle I wanted.
It’s turned out to be exactly what I’d hoped for; I operate pretty autonomously while taking advantage of all the benefits of a proven business framework. The nature of the work means repeat business, which is fantastic for giving me and the team reliability and security.
Did you know much about the fire and security sector before you moved into it?
The short answer is no! I knew very little about the sector – fire and security was a totally different industry to the one I’d worked in previously. But I didn’t see that as a reason to decide it wasn’t for me. I’d been in a similar management type role previously and I’d worked in an SME environment where our clients were larger
well-established businesses. The transferable skills I’d developed through my previous experiences were a strong fit for this type of management franchise. Ultimately, it’s about finding solutions to our customers’ requirements and effective people management – areas I’d already got extensive experience in.
What’s the franchise support been like since you started?
I came up to the Jackson HQ in North Wales around a year ago and immediately liked what I saw. They had a really good way about them – they were very approachable, very friendly and it felt like a nice culture. Straight away, I was impressed with the feel of the business and the people working in it.
The training to get up and running was personalised to support myself and our engineer as we were both new to the industry, with lots of information and guidance relating to the products themselves and the quality standards.
And since launching my branch, the ongoing support’s been excellent. Emma, the National Training and Support Manager, and Shea, the Compliance Manager, have both been amazing in terms of the knowledge they have and the level of support they’ve given me. They’re always on hand – I can contact them with a query and nine times out of ten I’ve had a response within an hour! Rachel, the National Sales and Marketing Manager, is always extremely helpful too – for example with things like guiding us about where to spend our marketing budget and also helping with some tender applications.
And all the other aspects have been great as well like the accounts side of the business which is managed with support from HQ. I’ve a fortnightly check-in meeting with the Jackson team too and can use them as a sounding board. It’s a great balance. I can get on with running my business but the team is always there to give support and advice. They’ve loads of experience and knowledge and it’s good having it there to draw on when I need it.
What have you enjoyed so far about being a Jackson franchisee?
I can honestly say that since I launched the branch, I’ve enjoyed every single day.
Finding solutions for clients is hugely satisfying. Sometimes organisations and individuals can feel a bit daunted about what they need to do when it comes to fire and security. They know they have responsibilities but don’t know how to best approach them or improve on what they’re already doing. Being the one to help them overcome that and to identify the solutions they need is a good feeling.
I also really value the opportunity for growth that this franchise has given me. I can see so much potential. I’ve a constant mindset of what I can do next to continuously improve. The first few months have been a big success, with a turnover to date of £225k. I want to keep building on that success.
What kinds of contracts have you won since starting the business?
One that immediately springs to mind is a major wireless fire alarm installation that we carried out at a luxury hotel and spa, Rowhill Grange, based in Wilmington in Kent.
They got in contact with us as they’d identified that they wanted to upgrade their current fire safety system and needed our advice about what improvements could be made. We worked closely with the team, making sure we satisfied all insurance and procurement specifications, to design a bespoke solution. And then we carried out the installation while the hotel remained open to guests, so it had to be done as unobtrusively as possible with minimum disruption. I’ve been back to the hotel since then to carry out support training, and we’ll continue to support them with fire alarm servicing and potentially any other fire safety and security requirements that come up in the future.
Going forward, we’ve some schools in the pipeline requiring our services. Schools have their own particular requirements given the nature of the setting and types of building users so I’m looking forward to devising fire safety solutions that’ll meet their particular needs.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking on a Jackson Fire and Security franchise?
Think carefully and honestly about what motivates you. Anyone who’s considering taking on a franchise must be motivated and willing to put in the hours. As is the case for anyone starting up their own business, it’s hard work. You’ve got to be prepared to sometimes have challenging conversations and to be able to deal with all kinds of issues that could crop up.
But if you’re the kind of person who’s willing to learn and put the effort in then it’s a great opportunity. If your focus is on amazing customer service, building relationships and creating a good culture then it could be an ideal fit. My advice would be to go for it!
If you’d like to know more about how Sam and his team can help with your fire safety and security requirements you can visit their website or give the team a call on 01322 250350. If you’re interested in learning more about our franchise opportunities, please do get in touch with us.
