Franchising Opportunities

One-stop service

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One-stop service

G-FIX IS THE NEW HANDYMAN FRANCHISE FROM THE GAS-ELEC GROUP

g-fix was launched in response to gas-elec clients’ demand and following a customer survey, as well as coinciding with the company’s 15-year anniversary.

It is the third franchise offered by the gas-elec business - a general repairs and maintenance service that can be booked in the same way and at the same time as clients currently book their safety inspections, meaning landlords and other clients can now rely on gas-elec for a one-stop service.

WHY G-FIX?

First time buyers are finding it hard to get a foot on the property ladder and the private rented market is currently booming. gas-elec carried out 120,000 safety inspections last year and helped to keep over a million homes safe across the UK. Some of the biggest lettings agents in the UK are gas-elec clients.

As well as inspections, lettings agents and landlords always need general repairs carried out, especially when there is a new tenancy. g-fix handymen can put up shelves, decorate, prune hedges - the list is endless. This lucrative gap in the market means now is a great time to consider becoming a g-fix franchisee.

G-FIX - IS IT FOR YOU?

• Potential earnings in the region of £45,000 per year when fully operational.

• Are you an experienced DIYer and good at general repairs?

• Training provided in areas you are not so familiar with, so that you can offer your clients a well-rounded, professional service. Also electrical awareness, health and safety, customer service and the gas-elec bespoke IT system training.

• Great opportunities to grow your business, plus reciprocal referrals from gas-elec franchisees.

• No administration. gas-elec’s unique two-tier system means it takes care of all your administration - payment collection, invoicing, credit control and VAT - as well as sales and marketing. Just print out your work schedule each evening and off you go.

• You get a full complement of tools and equipment, including van livery, laptop computer, uniform, etc.

• Most importantly, you can be your own boss.

As well as lettings agents and landlords, other clients include schools, care homes, pubs and clubs, and of course non-commercial private residential properties.

Carol Otway, Franchise Director for g-fix, says: “As a newly launched franchise we are currently recruiting g-fix franchisees from all parts of the UK. There is an existing and extensive client base that mainly comprises lettings agents and landlords. The regional management franchisee is responsible for the sales and marketing and his staff coordinate and book the work. Clients told us they have a need for a reliable general repairs and maintenance service.

“g-fix is perfect for people who love DIY and general maintenance, those who are keen to put their skills to good use by running a successful business of their own, but with the support of an experienced franchisor. 15 people support the g-fix franchise and in franchising this is an important element of a good business.

” We are looking for people with a professional approach, good customer skills and a keen eye for detail.”

ABOUT GAS-ELEC

In 1996 gas-elec pioneered the provision of combined safety inspection services in the UK. The efficiency and reliability of gas-elec engineers appeals in particular to busy lettings agents and landlords because they are obliged by law to carry out annual gas and electrical safety inspections in their properties. One call to gas-elec does it all - saving landlords a huge headache.

gas-elec is currently celebrating 15 successful years in business and is reputedly one of the fastest growing franchises of its kind in the UK. It has 18 regional offices across the UK and 120 engineers in the network who carry out 120,000 gas and electrical safety inspections a year servicing over a million homes.

gas-elec engineers provide comprehensive gas and electrical safety checks, boiler servicing and associated remedials for rented properties, small commercial businesses and homeowners. Now the g-fix franchise ensures that homes are in good repair and well maintained as well.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Regular free open days for prospective g-fix franchisees run throughout the year at gas-elec’s head office near Heathrow. These involve a short presentation, a chance to meet franchise staff, take away financial forecasts and join the company for lunch.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To find out more about becoming a g-fix franchisee or to find out when the next open day takes place call 0800 015 2030. Alternatively visit www.g-fix.co.uk or www.gas-elec.co.uk.

Life’s a gas

Colin Smith found his skills as a mechanic a great base to build on as a gas-elec franchisee

Like a lot of gas-elec engineers, Colin Smith’s background was not as a gas engineer. Instead he was a truck and bus mechanic, working his way up to the position of depot manager. It was this engineering background that gave him a great base to qualify in 2007 as a Corgi-registered (now known as Gas Safe Register) gas engineer. 

“The experience of being a depot manager meant that I already had customer care skills, as well as experience in running a business,” says Colin.

Road show

Colin read about gas-elec in a national daily newspaper and decided to find out moe about the franchise by attending a road show that gas-elec was bringing to Edinburgh. He liked the idea that he could meet the managing director, franchise director, as well as the local regional manager.

“They made the attendees feel very comfortable and gave us the opportunity to ask our questions,” says Colin. “They were also open to disclose financial forecasts and predictions, as well as the intricacies of the business.”

Once Colin had made the decision to take the next step, he underwent a skills preassessment at gas-elec’s training centre and a one-on-one interview with the franchise director to finalise the last remaining details, such as agreeing his area and scheduling him onto a training course. He then made the final decision to go ahead. Colin also took the time to speak to a few engineers in Scotland and then it was all systems go.

“I was looking for a challenging job and one where I would benefit from the fruits of my labour,” he says. “I was fed up taking the grief for other people’s errors and this provided the solution. Then there was the security of owning your own company and being backed by the franchisor - all of this was offered by gas-elec.” 

So in January 2007 Colin joined gas-elec as a franchisee and started his training at the company’s CITB and City & Guilds approved training and assessment centre. Throughout the training, franchisees build up a portfolio that includes on-site experience. Once Colin officially qualified, it was all systems go and he started working in his area.

As a franchisee, Colin’s day starts the night before: “After 6pm each night I download my work for the next day. I check locations and see whether there is any information on the system that shows the history of the client/property and the appliances that need inspecting. The regional manager’s office organises the general work order for the day, but things change all the time and it’s important that you’re flexible within the needs of the client.”

Relationship

In the morning he heads off for his first job, which may also include collecting the keys for the properties from estate agents in the local high street. Colin explains: “While this can be time consuming, it lets me build up a relationship with the agents and they in turn can reassure their tenants that I am honest, reliable and trustworthy. After visiting tenants a few times, you even get to build up a relationship with them too.

“I’ve managed to build up such a good relationship with our clients that in some cases they won’t let anyone else do the work for them. There was a case a year or so back with one of my customers that wouldn’t let anyone else work on his boiler and went for two days without heating until I could get there.” 

Having been in the business for almost four years, Colin admits there are huge advantages to being a gas-elec franchisee. He states that not only is the work performed during normal business hours - Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm - but it is relatively clean work and on top of that you get to meet some interesting people. “And if you’re prepared to put in the effort, the rewards can certainly be worthwhile,” says Colin.

He went on to say that one of the huge advantages of buying a gas-elec franchise is the fact that the franchisor and regional manager does the sales, job booking and accounting on your behalf and: “You don’t have to spend your time debt collecting”. The franchisees also get a lot of support from the franchisor in the form of marketing, training and IT support.

Colin does however warn that you do also get to meet some untidy people in some very untidy homes.