From the Navy to a healthcare franchise – how one entrepreneur didn’t miss the boat…

Back in 1997 former Naval Stores Accountant Croash Robinson made a life-changing decision. “After I left the Navy I trained as a nurse, and although I enjoyed many aspects of that career, I realised pretty quickly that what I really wanted to do was to run my own business, preferably with the help and support of an experienced company”. So began Croash’s interest in franchising, and those companies working in the care and nursing field in particular.

Although the market for care services is very large and is growing quickly due to demographic changes, the problem for Croash was identifying a company that could help him take advantage of this market effectively. “I was attracted to
Prestige Nursing chiefly because of their very honest and open style”, explains Croash. “They already had a well established company-owned branch network, and really took their time in making sure that I was right for them, and that my new franchise in Northampton would take off. Their range of services also appealed to me – as a franchisee I was able to work in both healthcare recruitment and homecare services, meaning less risk and more return.”

Croash has run a franchise with Prestige for nearly 10 years and is acutely aware of how the market has changed during that time. “When I first started the majority of my business was in healthcare recruitment, which involved the supply of staff to the NHS and local care homes. Over the years I have been able to work with Prestige to adapt quickly to local market conditions, so much so that most of my work is now in homecare services, whilst most of my original competitors have left the market.

”“I was attracted by their very honest and open style.”

So what distinguishes a good franchise system from a truly great one? ‘Systems and Support’ suggests Croash. As it does for all new franchises, Prestige managed the payroll and invoicing functions for the branch, leaving Croash more time to work with the franchise support teams to build his business. “I’ve never underestimated the impact that had on my business. Right from the word go the Prestige system allowed me the time to grow my business quickly and effectively, without becoming tied down in the paperwork that inevitably accompanies a new business in the care sector.”

Croash was equally impressed with the support he received during the early years of the franchise and which he continues to receive now, 10 years later. “During the early years of the franchise I simply had to pick up the phone to get a question answered or a problem solved. After 10 years I now have a lot of my own suggestions but Prestige will always try and build these and other ideas into any new services they launch. It is this desire for continuous improvement that has really impressed me, and even now they’re still pushing me to grow my business.”

So after 10 years with Prestige is Croash thinking of selling the franchise and moving on to pastures new?

“Not a bit of it. I’ve just taken on a second territory and am really looking forward to developing that with the help of the franchise support team. My original franchise in Northampton has never been busier, so who knows,
I could be here for another 10 years!

”“ Has a Prestige franchise worked for me? I’ve just taken on a second territory...”