The care sector is an industry which welcomes people from every walk of life. Our clients are a diverse range of people and so our managing director franchisees and carers also come from every background. It's also an industry which is flexible and can fit around family commitments so traditionally has attracted women who are looking to juggle work and home life successfully.

At Walfinch we empower our managing director franchisees to run their own businesses, looking after a team of carers who in turn deliver care to clients in their own homes. With an aging population, it's a growing industry and because the franchise route offers comprehensive training and support it's one that offers opportunities to anyone with the drive, determination and compassion to succeed.

How a Walfinch Franchise transformed my life
Tiffany Meachim, the Managing Director of Walfinch Mansfield: "Sometimes one meeting can completely change your life. When I was working in a convenience store, aged 18, I never imagined that within 20 years I'd be a business owner delivering valuable services to my community and employing 35 people."
Tiff admits: "I had done reasonably well in my GCSEs but I was by no means an A* student, and I left school keen to get into work.
"I learnt a lot about customer service in my retail job, but I'd also been supporting a family member who had had a stroke. I found that rewarding, so I decided to apply for a health care assistant job in the NHS."
Tiff found the NHS job rewarding but wanted more of a challenge. "You turned up, did your 12 hour shift and went home. There was little variation and there was not much chance of making financial progress," she says.
Life-changing meeting
Fast forward several years. "I then met Amrit Dhaliwal, the founder and chief executive of home care franchise Walfinch. I had a streaming cold at the time, but I asked how the franchise could help achieve my ambition to start a home care business of my own.
"It took my partner Ian and I 18 months to decide to invest in the franchise," says Tiff. "We had to think carefully because we had a mortgage to pay and our first child, Harry, was less than one year old. It also took some time to get the finance organised. Starting a business is always a bit of a risk, but I could see Amrit was a young and ambitious businessman willing to invest in me and our local community, so I was inspired by that."
Transformation and education
Tiff started Walfinch Mansfield during the pandemic in 2021, when she was 33. It now employs a team of 35 carers, and she is taking on more to meet the growing demand.
"I knew the care sector well, but the Walfinch franchise gave me the support, training and coaching that was vital in turning my experience into a successful business."
Tiff started out by working up to 50 hours a week, building and running her home care team and providing the care herself when necessary, as well as running the business with help from co-director Ian.
This determination paid off when The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Walfinch Mansfield 'good' in its first inspection, after just one year. Tiff says: "We are now working towards achieving the CQC's outstanding status, while looking to expand our service offering to include live-in care."
"As an 18 year-old in a convenience store I never imagined I would be where I am now, combining a happy family with a growing home care business. I'm living proof that if you have ambition, a willingness to work hard, and the courage to start your own business, a franchise can literally change your life."

Award winning franchisee

Walfinch franchisee Sarah Wickham has built her franchise to support private customers in their own homes, from companionship visits to intensive live-in care.

With over 25 years' experience in the care industry, Sarah Wickham was the very first Walfinch franchisee having established the Walfinch Suffolk Coastal business in December 2019, reaching profitability in just three months.

Sarah has worked hard to establish the business and has seen it grow, expanding her reach by taking on the Norfolk franchise area in 2022. Sarah also recently purchased a third Walfinch franchise in West Suffolk.  Today, Sarah is one of Walfinch's top performing franchisees and has built a strong team of 100 carers across three territories who share her passion for making a positive difference in people's lives and formed a loyal client-base.

Sarah says: "Having worked in the care sector for over 25 years, I have formed many contacts and connections across East Anglia, and I could clearly see a gap for providing the people of Norwich with a flexible, friendly home-care service. Following the success of my Suffolk Coastal business, it made sense to extend these services to Norfolk, and I've already started to receive great interest from people looking for friendly care for both themselves or their family.

"My experience of providing care in people's own homes and care homes has given me invaluable knowledge," she says. "Even after more than 20 years in the care sector I love the variety that each day brings, and I am still passionate about delivering care with empathy and compassion to the local community."

In October 2022, Sarah was announced as a finalist in The Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards; a national awards programme designed to celebrate female contribution to the social care industry and she has recently been confirmed major national franchise award winner.

To see Sarah and Tiffany's continued success and growth as Walfinch franchisees is something I greatly applaud. Their experience in providing the highest quality of care and support to their clients, as well as their commitment to building a strong team of carers, makes them both outstanding members of the Walfinch community.

For information about franchise opportunities with Walfinch please see: Exciting Homecare Franchise Opportunities in 2023 (walfinchfranchising.com) [1] 

 Or visit us at the  Franchise Show on 6 & 7 October at the NEC, Birmingham, click here for a free ticket [2]