The Company
FranchisingWorks Ltd is a social enterprise which has over 10 years’ experience with people who are looking at starting a franchise or their own business. Over time our offer has broadened to include training, self-employment, business start-up, and assisting businesses in their next stage of growth, personal development and developing skills for life.
Our aim has always been to help promote, grow and develop individuals, so that they can create a better life for themselves, by giving them the skills and opportunities to build better futures for them, their families and their communities.
We concentrate on helping people at the margins of the labour market not only to find work, but sustainable work where they can become their own boss, taking charge off their economic future.
We typically work with hard-to-reach groups, such as ex-offenders, lone parents, ethnic minorities and long term unemployed. That is reflected in our staff team who live locally and have the same experiences as our clients. Some of our best referrals come from ‘school gate networks and walk-in events held by local partners.
We have supported many people over the last 10 years or achieve their own dreams and ambitions and, helping over 300 business start-ups , providing post-launch support and advice, helping them identify and overcoming common business obstacles. In addition, we have helped many individuals take the first step into the world of work, by supporting them in finding sustainable employment.
This work means that we are continually engaging with our target groups, working with many minority and disadvantaged groups in the Northwest of England, as well as a thick web of relationships with public sector agencies, local government, community organisations, and other providers in the sector.
It is the combination of this detailed knowledge of the challenges and opportunities faced by this client base, coupled with our distinctive bespoke approach to finding what’s right for the individual, if tis self-employment or employment and helping them take charge, that gives us a unique position in the welfare to work ecosystem.
Although our core values and ways of working are well established, we have always needed to be adaptable and flexible to respond to new opportunities and new challenges.
We have specialist and experienced staff that can help you investigate, understand, develop your knowledge and skills to set up and grow your own business.
We can also help and support you to grow your existing business either organically or through franchisee acquisition. Franchising your business can be a daunting and expensive undertaking which can leave the business vulnerable legally, if done incorrectly. We have over 20 years experience of franchising existing businesses.
The Team
Chair
Chris has led over fifteen start-ups and mergers and has substantial experience in professional development, skills, and employment. Chris is a partner at The Shaftesbury Partnership, and in addition has led the Trussell Trust for over 10 years. Among other programmes, the Trussell Trust runs the Foodbank network, a social franchise which has set up over 400 foodbanks across the UK in the last eight years.
Chris spent over twenty years in senior public sector management where he held both Chief Executive and Chairman roles at local and national level. He was Chief Executive of Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust for ten years and the founding Chairman of Health work UK (now Skills for Health). He then became Chief Executive of a new non-departmental public body responsible for police training across England and Wales. [/show_more]
Patrick Shine
Finance Director
Patrick Shine has 15 years’ experience in advising charities, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on scaling strategies, leadership development and social investment. He also mentors’ individuals with business experience who wish to transition into the social impact sector. He has been a partner at The Shaftesbury Partnership since 2008 and has led the organisation since 2011.
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Patrick manages the overall business strategy, and as such he has established social ventures in a range of sectors including FranchisingWorks. Patrick has active links with policymakers, think tanks and academics, focussing on how policy ideas can be made to work in practice. He was the Founding Chair of the Challenge Network, the leading provider of the government’s National Citizen Service programme, and the Founding Governor of the Southwark Free School. Before joining the voluntary sector, Patrick worked for over 20 years in financial markets, specialising in global fixed income and derivatives, and was a director of Lazard Brothers Asset Management.
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Vicky Berry
Programme Manager / Advisor
Vicky has over 20 years’ experience working within the Training, Education and Welfare to work sector, leading various programmes throughout the Northwest, supporting people and businesses reach and achieve their own goals. An experience manager and mentor, leading and developing business, business development and bid writing. Vicky has a proven record within Welfare to work, business development, new business start-up and mentoring and growing existing business.
Vicky also has strong links within the local communities of South Liverpool, supporting and working with many 3rd sector organisations and is a current Trustee of a local charity based in Halewood Knowsley.
Mark Waghorn
Non-Executive Director
Mark is a senior lawyer, leading the UK Real Estate Finance practice at Simmons & Simmons. Key sector experience includes residential, hotels and leisure, healthcare, and retail. He acts for all market participants: lenders, borrowers, senior, junior and mezzanine debt players providing investment, development and structured finance, including commercial mortgage-backed securitisations.
Mark also specialises in real estate restructuring and insolvency work, working with lenders and borrowers and with Insolvency Practitioners and Property Receivers.
Shirley Kirby
Engagement Officer/Tutor
Shirley has over 15 years’ experience working within the Training, Education, employability sector, working with some of the hardest to reach communities in the Region, Shirley has a vast knowledge and understanding of our core target groups and how ensuring that by working with people on a one-to-one basis, we can help them achieve their own goals.
Shirley’s work experience has seen her works across a multitude of sectors, from working for some of the biggest snack brands across the UK within their Business development and sales departments, to working within the Film industry, to successfully setting up and running several Business with her Husband across the Liverpool area.