A Perfect Partnership: The Godsons’ Franchise Success with Home Instead

Gail Godson’s career was in the healthcare sector while her husband Robert was an operations director in newsprint logistics. They decided to combine their skill sets creating the perfect husband-and-wife team with Home Instead. 

As a business pairing, their backgrounds could not have been more different, but equally for a home care business hugely complementary. 

Prior to moving into business ownership in the care sector, the Godsons had minimal knowledge of franchising. In fact, Gail recalls having to look it up! They knew they wanted to be able to make a difference and had an idea of a business in care, but didn’t know where to start and had been put off by the complexities of setting up from scratch. 

They decided to visit The National Franchise Exhibition in the NEC, Birmingham to see what was on offer. As part of their research, they wanted to see all the franchise options available to them in case something caught their eye.  

Gail remembers running into someone they knew. “We were waiting to have our appointment when we bumped into Cath and Mike Charlton, from Home Instead, who had just won the Franchisee of the Year award.’ They were encouraging and told the couple they were ‘right to do their due diligence’.”

Later at the Home Instead stand, Robert recalls meeting Ruth Brown, who is now COO at Home Instead UK. “She was full of bubbly enthusiasm and her values seemed to fit exactly with what we perceived care to be. It was just what you would want for your loved one or neighbour or friend.”

And that’s what convinced them that Home Instead was right for them. Gail comments:

There was still work to do. They met with one of the co-founders of Home Instead, who was keen to ensure they were both the right fit for each other. “It was a real partnership,” says Robert. They spent time at their national office, meeting the team and going through all the details in setting up their new business.

They signed their Home Instead franchise agreement in November and by February they had opened their office in Ormskirk. Adopting the attitude ‘fortune favours the brave’, they jumped straight in, renting half of a converted barn in Ormskirk, and their first client came on board in June 2012 as did one of their care professionals who is still with them today. “We’re very proud of her and that relationship,” declares Gail.

The Godsons’ territory of West Lancashire & Chorley was the 96^th Home Instead franchise to be opened. Today there are over 255 franchise offices in the UK. They attend the annual Home Instead conference every year without fail. “It’s a great opportunity to meet fellow owners,” explains Gail. “It’s great to share best practices, check in with friends, learn and of course have a lot of fun. It’s such an enthusiastic and motivational event.”

In 2015, they were rated by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) as the very first Outstanding provider of care and went on to make presentations to others supporting them and providing guidance on how to achieve success. 

The Godsons are happy to share their experience of franchising with anyone looking to attend The National Franchise Exhibition.

“Do your due diligence. Research, research, research.”

says Robert

“It’s vital to find out about the performance of the franchise network you are considering, and then, when you do sign up, follow their business model and don’t try to run before you can walk. Success will follow, especially if you, like us, find a fabulous franchisor and brand.”  

Gail has been asked why they didn’t just set up a business on their own. But she maintains that the support from being a franchise is key to the success of their home care business, sharing best practices and new ideas. “One of the huge benefits,” says Gail, “is having that support and being able to pick a phone up and speak to somebody at the national office or within the network. That’s been invaluable.”

Are you interested in following in the footsteps of Robert and Gail and becoming our next franchise success story? Find out more about our upcoming events and book your free tickets today!