Driver Hire’s 2025 annual conference - held in the splendid surroundings of the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester - was a perfect opportunity to mark the achievements of its top-performing and long-standing franchisees. Leading the way was Harriette Wood, owner of Driver Hire’s Stockport office, crowned ‘Franchisee of the Year’. 

Other annual award winners for 2024-25 included Jordan Tracey (Dundee & Perth), Gary Stuttard (Norwich & Great Yarmouth), Ash Elsom and Daisy Barrett (Colchester & Sudbury) and Brad Kerin (Crewe & Congleton). In addition, fourteen franchisees collected awards for reaching annual turnover milestones – eight of which were in excess of £2m. 

And finally, eight franchisees celebrated long-term partnerships with Driver Hire, ranging from ten to thirty years.  

The Conference’s theme was ‘Future Ready’. Keynote speakers were AI expert, Katie King and business growth guru, Allister Frost. Their lively presentations focused on having the right tools and the right mindset to grab the opportunities in a rapidly changing business world. Also, on hand was the Bank of England’s Ken Clark who gave an update on the economic outlook and solicitor Jim Wright from Knights plc to deliver down-to-earth advice on recent changes to employment law.  

Driver Hire Chief Executive, Chris Chidley, gave an upbeat review on another outstanding year’s trading which saw Group turnover reach £119m. During the year Driver Hire offices traded with just short of 6,500 clients; 24 offices had record-breaking years. Average turnover for a Driver Hire franchise during 2024/25 was £1.3m. Driver Hire Training delivered 100,000 training days and Driver Hire Australia enjoyed another excellent year. It was, in Chris Chidley’s words, “a performance of which everyone in the business can be proud.” 

(Pictured: Driver Hire’s franchisee of the year, Harriette Wood, receives her award from, left: Chris Chidley (Driver Hire CEO) and right, Simon Johnston (Driver Hire’s Franchised Network Development Director).  

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