Franchise Brands

Franchise Brands operates specialist businesses which enjoy attractive positions in their respective markets. The central offering of the different Franchise Brands operating companies is van-based services provided to commercial customers on both an emergency call-out and a scheduled maintenance basis.

Emergency call-outs command high margins while maintenance contracts generate consistent cashflow. Demand from end customers is often driven by legislative requirements such as Health & Safety and this helps drive the company’s revenues.

The positive environmental contribution the company’s franchisees make is in environmental management and remediation. They deal with clean ups (e.g. of used cooking oil and grease) and responsible disposal, as well as the repair and maintenance of industrial and commercial equipment to ensure longer and more efficient operation.

Owning and operating a franchise gives franchisees the chance to run their own businesses at a much lower risk than with a conventional start-up.

Franchise Brands is a relatively small business; however, over time we would like to see continued progress in board independence and diversity.

Given the company operates a franchise model at relative arm’s length, its sustainability reporting appears somewhat behind best practice in areas such as measuring CO₂ emissions, water use and aspects of executive remuneration disclosure. We appreciate the practical challenges in gathering this information and note that existing reporting is positive, but we would welcome continued expansion of disclosure over time.

The workforce is drawn from traditionally male-dominated industries. Although we understand the challenges involved, we would welcome evidence of initiatives aimed at improving gender diversity across franchise networks.