January saw EnviroVent’s new TV advert featuring ‘Venty’, our new character who solves condensation and mould, aired for the very first time on MORE4.

The TV ad campaign will run from January until the end of February. In January the advert will run once a day during the evening peak time, and in February it will change to off-peak times during the day.

The More4 programs which are scheduled to feature the advert within their commercial break include Come Dine with Me, Grand Designs, Relocation Relocation, Location Location, Beanies Restoration Nightmare and many more programs relating to the home.

The aim of the advert is to generate lots of enquiries for our domestic division team and significantly boost our brand awareness across all sectors.

Jamie Williamson has purchased the Portsmouth franchise of leading transport and logistics recruiter, Driver Hire.

Jamie, brings 20 years’ of financial and business experience to his franchise. He worked for DHL Express and, more recently, Rentokil Initial Washrooms and Textiles Division. For the latter he was Chief of Staff to their European CEO and was based in Belgium with responsibility for managing change across 16 businesses throughout Europe. He also has previous experience of franchising which, by way of recommendation, brought him to Driver Hire.

“I was looking for a new challenge and this opportunity with Driver Hire came along,” says Jamie. To ensure he gets away to a flying start Jamie has completed an in-depth two-week training course to learn the basics of his new business. He’ll be working alongside experienced colleagues Mike St John Mosse, Roy Lovatt and Debbie Booker.

“Our focus will be on client retention and delivering added value to our market-leading service,” Jamie concludes.

Out of hours Jamie loves football and golf. Much of his spare time is taken up as the Chairman of Evo Stick Division One team, Fleet Town FC.

The UK’s largest specialist supplier, 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.

Why not make 2012 the year to start your own business or grow your existing business with the advantage of the Century 21 brand name.

The Merseyside Franchise Show is being held at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, on Saturday January 28, from 9:30am until 4:00pm. If you would like to find out more about being an estate and letting agency with Century 21 UK please come along.

Click here to read more about Century 21 franchises, available throughout the UK.

McDonald’s UK has today announced it is creating at least 2,500 new jobs across the UK this year. This will take McDonald’s UK workforce to 90,000.

The announcement will be welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was visiting McDonald’s UK training centre in East Finchley, London, on Tuesday January 24.

As part of McDonald’s commitment to supporting young people, an estimated 30% of the new jobs will go to first-time workers, helping them gain a valuable first foothold in the world of work. More than half of the 2,500 jobs are expected to go to young people under the age of 25.

The new jobs build on the 13,500 jobs McDonald’s has created over the last three years and come as a result of a continued period of sustained investment and growth driven by:

• New restaurants and extended opening hours
• Major restaurant refurbishment programme and roll-out of new technology
• Constant menu innovation and new menu options

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “It is fantastic news that McDonald’s is creating 2,500 new jobs in the UK – and that over half of these posts will go to young people.

“McDonald’s has an excellent reputation for developing its staff with training and apprenticeship programmes. This invests valuable time and resources to help young people, with little or no experience in the world of work, to develop their skills and confidence. In the end, that gives young people a terrific opportunity to move up within the company, or use their experience and training to move into other jobs. It’s a telling fact that half of McDonald’s current board have progressed from the shop floor to the top floor, having started their careers serving customers in the restaurant.”

The Deputy Prime Minister will attend a scheduled training course for restaurant managers and meet a number of crew members, many of whom are completing nationally recognised qualifications like apprenticeships while they work. For a significant number of these young people, their jobs at McDonald’s are the first step in their careers.

Prime Minister David Cameron also praised the news, stating, “I am delighted to welcome McDonald’s announcement of new jobs. McDonald’s has a great record in investing in the UK and providing excellent training, apprenticeships and opportunities for its staff.”

Jill McDonald, CEO, McDonald’s UK, said: “Despite these difficult economic conditions our continued emphasis on good quality food at affordable prices and improving the experience for our customers and our people, has meant that we are able to continue to invest in the business and create jobs.

“Today’s job market is particularly tough for young people so it remains vital that these jobs continue to offer great training programmes that teach the valued, transferable skills that will give them a solid footing on the career ladder and help them to progress their careers with us or other employers.”

McDonald’s has awarded almost 35,000 qualifications from maths and English certificates to Foundation Degrees in the past five years. It will build on this figure significantly in 2012 to support the growing number of employees who choose to study whilst working at McDonald’s.

Cartridge Green has announced they are opening their first UK-based store in the South East. Cartridge Green is Ireland’s leading franchised supplier of printer cartridges and printing solutions for home and business users.

Cartridge Green’s co-founder and Director of Franchising Nik Healy said: “We are delighted to be entering the UK as all along the Cartridge Green franchise model has been developed, tested and perfected with the UK market in mind.

“The potential for the Cartridge Green franchise model in the UK is huge because of higher urban population densities and lower levels of competition when compared to Ireland. All the best territories are still available for single or multi-unit franchises so if you are looking for something new, exciting and highly profitable then you should talk to us.

“We will be working extremely closely with our new franchise owners to assist them in achieving their goals in the shortest possible timeframe as well as continuing to attract ambitious business people to share Cartridge Green’s success in other parts of the UK.

“The key driver of Cartridge Green’s success has been innovation in how we deliver our products and services and our strong attention to brand identity and consistency. Cartridge Green isn’t your typical, dark, back street printer cartridge refill store. We have specifically designed products that offer great value and service for both home and business users and most importantly excellent profits for the franchise owne.”

2012 is going to be a great year for Cartridge Green with the first of five stores opening shortly in the South East.

Laurence Fitch was the General Manager of a family company importing ceramic tiles throughout the South East. He left early in 2008 due to the downturn in the economic climate. His wife, Ruth, had spent the last 10 years working for an international investment bank in the City. She had the opportunity to take redundancy from the bank in August 2008.

Laurence recalls: “Both Ruth and I knew that we wanted to run our own business but could not decide what we wanted to do. We felt that franchising gave us the ideal balance of choosing our own business with the support of an established organisation. I visited The British and International Franchise Exhibition at Olympia while Ruth was abroad and found that having a full range of franchises under one roof was extremely beneficial. I came across Auditel and was immediately impressed with their business model and how well it suited the current economic situation. Having spent several months researching, we joined their network in September 2008.”

Ruth adds: “I do not recall experiencing a recruitment ‘process’ with Auditel. My experience was a two-way, open exploration of the business opportunity – open, honest, professional and caring. The values, principles and culture of the organisation were strongly evident. I felt confident that the decision was mine and it was the right path for us.”

They both agreed that the training was outstanding, quickly allowing them to develop their skills so that they could push their business forward. Laurence comments: “The benefits we have received from having the support of our mentors and the Auditel network of over 200 consultants has been outstanding – even the most obscure problem we have faced has been explained quickly by somebody who has experienced something similar!”

Laurence and Ruth have become well established within the marketplace of cost management. They have succeeded in growing a comprehensive client base, many of whom offer glowing testimonials. Their growing reputation, both in the business community and the Auditel network has been fully recognised. Laurence and Ruth were the ‘Rising Stars of the Year’ in 2009 and ‘Franchise of the Year’ in 2010. Ruth has become a member of the Auditel Franchise Advisory Council and Laurence, a Regional Principal for the NW London Group.

Franchising has evidently been very good for Laurence and Ruth. They declare: “This end result is from one of the best business decisions of our lives!”

The team at Assist With Solutions welcomes ex-City Fund Manager Christina Haemmerli-Schlegell as their latest consultant franchisee.

Christina brings with her a wealth of business and financial experience working in large and multi-national financial institutions over the years. This knowledge and experience will be invaluable to her future clients in the small and medium sized business sector.

Currently undergoing training at Assist With Solutions head office, the company is looking forward to working with Christina in utilising her skills in making an impact and difference to business owners in her chosen area.

Further exciting developments are happening at dynamic and fast growing franchise Assist With Solutions.

Following a period of consultation aligned to the company vision of creating the UK’s first ‘one-stop’ shop for specialist, structured and cost effective business support to entrepreneurs’ around the country, with immediate effect they will be offering a UK wide roaming licence to all franchisees, allowing them to benefit from personal contacts, wherever they may be located, as well as being able to offer their particular skill set throughout the client base wherever it is needed.

CEO Andy MacDonald explained, “This hugely important step will maximise the earning potential for our franchisees, as well as allow our clients to benefit from access to all the professional skill sets required to grow any successful business. Followers of our brand should look out for further exciting developments in the near future.”

Exciting developments are occurring at fast growing and dynamic UK business support franchise Assist With Solutions Ltd, who have teamed up with RSM Tenon Plc, the UK’s largest and most successful business recovery/turnaround specialists in the SME sector.

With 48 offices and 3500 staff throughout the country as well as presence in 85 countries around the globe, franchisees can be confident that any future client requirements in this area will be dealt with in the most professional manner.

Franchisees will act as project managers for their clients during the process and will be paid a percentage of the value of the work being undertaken.

If you are passionate about helping others achieve, while developing a lucrative and residual income for yourself, please click here to read more about Assit With Solutions.

The UK’s leading children’s activity franchise, The Creation Station, announced the award of 11 new franchises to mums during the months of September and November 2011. The ‘Licence to Inspire’ children’s imaginations’ enables the 11 women to run their own art and crafts activity franchise within their local community and to start 2012 with their own ready-made inspiring business.

The 11 mums come from across the UK and are launching their Creation Station franchise within their local towns. Helen Silva is from Exeter, Debbie Collins is from Chester, Susan Hammond is from South Bristol, Susan Hicks is from Durham, Erika Doerksen is from Ipswich, Christine Cox is from Solihull, Ann Berry is from North Ipswich, Louise Platt is from Bedfordshire, Naomi Savory is from Southport, Debbie Miodonski is from Chelmsford and Cath Allen is from County Antrim.

Susan Hicks said: “I was looking for an opportunity that would give me flexibility around my family needs, but at the same time provide a good income” states Hicks from Durham. “I came across The Creation Station and both my husband and I felt it ticked all the boxes for us as a family. For me, I love the brand ethos and all the people involved are very supportive and helpful.”

Cath Allen from County Antrim in Northern Ireland was recently made redundant and was looking to run her own business to enable her to have more time with her daughter.

“I’m really excited to be the first to bring The Creation Station to Northern Ireland. I completed my training just three weeks ago and have already delivered a Creation Station Arty Party, which was really good fun, I have another booked for this Saturday too,” stated Allen. “The response to the Little Explorer and Baby Discovery art and craft classes has been really positive. I am starting 2012 with classes planned within the local community centres in Crumlin and Lilburn. I feel I have turned the difficult situation of redundancy around and I am now really looking forward to an inspiring 2012.”

The Creation Station is the UK’s leading children’s art and craft activity provider. With over 50 Creation Station franchise owners delivering art and crafts experiences for families and organisations within communities across the UK. The creative experiences include; Baby Discovery, Little Explorers and Family Fun classes, Arty Birthday Party entertainment plus activities at events. The Creation Station was established in 2002 by multi award-winner and mum to three, Sarah Cressall. The Creation Station is an affiliated member of the British Franchise Association and is running the children’s centre at the British Franchise Exhibitions throughout 2012 to support women and families that are considering franchising. For more information about franchise opportunities and the arts and crafts experiences of The Creation Station, click here.