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As the UK population lives longer, there is a greater requirement for quality care services. As it currently stands, the UK care industry is worth almost £8 billion per year. With the rapid increase in care agencies across the country in recent years, there is a clear indication that not only is there a growing demand for care services, but that starting a care franchise is a smart investment. Franchising provides a unique opportunity for potential buyers to tap into the market whilst simultaneously receiving guidance and support.
As a winner of the Emerging Franchisor of the Year at the HSBC British Franchise Awards 2019, Radfield Home Care is a growing care franchise that specialises in providing care-at-home services to the UK’s rapidly ageing population. With a focus on the private marketplace, Radfield uses the latest technologies to empower a developed workforce and deliver exceptional and personalised care within local communities.
Read more on Radfield Home Care here
In this week’s Franchisor Q&A series, we take a further look at what makes Radfield Home Care unique and why it is worth investing in their brand.
Q1. What makes your franchise standout?
There are a few things that make Radfield Home Care stand out from the crowd.
Firstly, Radfield’s core values are a large part of the company culture and are very much focused around family - ‘We are proud to care, we are family, we are on your side’. Not only has Radfield been family owned and operated for over 35 years, but its entire ethos is focused on delivering the highest quality of care and support to both its clients and, uniquely, its care professionals as well.
These core values support two of Radfield’s main USPs, the first of which is its Caring for our Carers™ pledge. This is its commitment to looking after its workforce with a variety of measures ranging from good pay and CPD opportunities, to a supportive work environment and staff recognition schemes. Recognising the importance of care professionals has always been very important to Radfield and helps generate a commitment throughout the team to providing a higher quality of care to clients.
The second of which is Radfield Home Care’s franchisors’ lifetime of hands-on experience in care. Hannah and Alex grew up in the residential care home owned and operated by their parents and they each began working there in their teenage years. Hannah went on to become a qualified and experienced GP, before they launched Radfield Home Care in 2008. As a result, they have over 35 years of hands-on care experience and franchise partners can pick up the phone and tap into their unrivalled knowledge on a daily basis.
Q2. Why is it worth investing in your brand?
Aside from operating in a sector that gives something back to your local community, the home care sector is also once of very few that can boast recession resistance. Unlike travel, retail or food, people don’t stop needing care when finances are tight. Radfield Home Care’s business model can demonstrate this perfectly; launching in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis and growing sustainably in the weeks, months and years that followed. This is yet more experience Hannah and Alex have and can support franchise partners with.
Aside from this business model security, Radfield Home Care is a brand for those focused on developing a business that puts people first. Many of Radfield’s franchise partners have joined the network following a touch point with the sector that has led them to recognise the importance of providing high quality care services, such as those Radfield focuses on, within their local communities. We have now seen time and time again that this people first approach does not only benefit clients, but it also contributes to business growth as clients seek out the best providers in their local area.
Q3. How is your franchise adapting to the current COVID-19 crisis?
At a time of crisis, whether that is economic or social, the demand for care services remains as people cannot simply ignore their health and wellbeing needs. As a result of this, despite some initial concerns surrounding retention of staff due to illness and acquiring PPE that have now largely been overcome, Radfield’s franchise partners have continued to grow - with most of the network experiencing their busiest weeks yet during the coronavirus pandemic.
Q4. What extra support and assistance are you offering your franchisees during this time?
Naturally, Radfield’s franchise partners have been turning to the support team to direct them through these unusual and challenging times. To respond to this the Radfield support team has implemented a range of measures including weekly webinar updates and Q&A sessions with the governance and compliance team; enhanced marketing support, such as a fully managed #becomeahero recruitment campaign; and a PPE taskforce to source and allocate much needed resources on franchise partners’ behalf.
Radfield is also working with franchise partners on a one-to-one basis to identify specific local challenges that may be on the horizon, and developing action plans to help franchise partners respond in a measured and timely manner.
Q5. What plans do you have for the franchise over the next few years?
One thing the coronavirus has demonstrated is how resistant and in demand the home care marketplace is. Radfield’s plans have always been to achieve sustainable growth over the years ahead; to invite new franchise partners into the network that share its ethos and that can be supported with a healthy ratio of support staff. These plans are still very much in place despite coronavirus, and Radfield is still experiencing a high number of enquiries despite the uncertainty.
Q6. What skills are important for your franchisees to have?
The main roles of Radfield franchise partners is marketing and networking to help drive business growth and managing key team members. As a result, communication skills are essential to operate a successful Radfield Home Care franchise.
Current franchise partners have a variety of different backgrounds; some in healthcare but many not. You don’t need prior healthcare experience because Radfield’s support team works with you to recruit a care management team that will oversee daily care delivery and ensure the service level remains high. Radfield Home Care’s national office team will also ensure you are operating within the most up to date legislation, policies and procedures as well.