Pete Pimperton, joint venture franchisee at Maidstone and Medway

During the summer, Driver Hire, the leading transport and logistics recruitment franchise, announced the completion of three joint venture franchises in Liverpool, Doncaster and at its Maidstone & Medway office. They are following in the footsteps of a number of other Driver Hire employees who have been inspired to invest their own money and step over from playing an important role supporting our franchisees, to being in the driving seat of their own Driver Hire franchise, turning over as much as £2.2m per annum.

What they all have in common is that working for Driver Hire has put them in a perfect position to see the huge potential rewards in operating a Driver Hire franchise.

Jane Hough, who was manager at Driver Hire Liverpool, decided to take the plunge and become her own boss in June. She’s been joined in the business by her husband, John, who was an Area Development Manager for Driver Hire’s field-based franchise support team. “Driver Hire gave me the option to buy into the business at very favourable terms,” says Jane. “I’ve enjoyed two successful years here and – with Liverpool on the up and up and a massive amount of investment going into the city – I think there’s plenty of scope for further growth.”

Meanwhile, Steve Bryan, who’s had a lifetime’s experience in road transport, agreed a joint venture arrangement to take over at Driver Hire Doncaster. Before joining the Driver Hire Bradford team in 2015, Steve had been in the armed services and then worked as a goods vehicle driver and later a transport planner before becoming a transport manager. “I love working for Driver Hire,” says Steve. “I’m enjoying it even more now I am joint owner and a shareholder in the business.”

And last, but by no means least, is Pete Pimperton. Pete, who’s been with Driver Hire since 2013, was manager at Driver Hire Doncaster when he was offered a joint venture opportunity at Maidstone & Medway. “My wife is originally from Sittingbourne, so the decision to move was a fairly easy one,” says Pete. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m really excited by it.”

Graham Duckworth, Driver Hire’s Franchise Sales Director added: “Driver Hire’s nationwide network of 101 offices mainly comprises fully-franchised businesses, however it continues to operate a small number of company owned offices. Joint ventures are somewhere between the two, with Driver Hire initially retaining 51% of the business. They are generally only offered to people within the Driver Hire business. As joint venture partners Jane, John, Steve and Pete become a joint shareholder and part-owner of the business. There are, of course, opportunities for the partners to buy a greater share should they wish. Joint Ventures have worked extremely well at a number of other Driver Hire offices across our nationwide network. In each case our business partners have progessed from manager to a joint venture partnership and, eventually, have gone on to become very successful franchisees in their own right.”

Established for over 30 years, Driver Hire provides temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff to local and national organisations in both the public and private sector. If they’re short of staff – perhaps because of illness, holidays or seasonal demand – Driver Hire will supply them with a suitable replacement.