Joint venture franchises are proving to be a brilliant breeding ground for successful franchisees at Driver Hire. The leading transport and logistics recruiter has just completed the sale of its stake in Driver Hire East London to joint venture partner, Richard Pugh. 

Richard, who was previously a business development manager for Driver Hire’s franchise support team, bought his share of the business as a start-up in 2007. Over the past nine years he’s enjoyed a consistent level of year-on-year growth. Currently 30% up on same time last year, Richard and his team are heading for an all-time record trading performance. He’ll be hoping to emulate another former joint venture franchise, Driver Hire Gatwick, where owner Nic Chaviaris has enjoyed a fabulous run of success. Nic’s efforts were recognised last year when he was a bfa ‘Franchisee of the Year’ finalist.

Established for over thirty years, Driver Hire franchisees provide temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff, chiefly to the road transport and logistics industry. They help when customers need extra staff to deal with holidays, illness, peak trading periods or business expansion.  Its 104-office nationwide network is all set to complete a third consecutive year of record trading.

“The joint venture franchise model has worked really well for me. But I decided it was time to go it alone for a variety of reasons,” says Richard. “Primarily the success I’ve enjoyed over the past nine years has put me into a strong enough position financially to buy the business outright. Longer term, owning the business 100% means I’ll have a more valuable asset to sell. And, of course, as sole franchisee, the rewards for  future business success will all go to me.”

Graham Duckworth, Driver Hire’s Franchise Sales Director, added: “Joint ventures like Richard’s are only offered to existing members of the Driver Hire ‘family’. For instance Nic Chaviaris was the manager at Gatwick when we offered him a joint venture opportunity. Over the years that Richard’s been a joint venture franchisee he’s added a lot to the network and is always generous with his advice and support. Coupled with his drive and determination to succeed, it’s culminated in him winning this year’s Driver Hire Award for Endeavour, which he collected at Driver Hire’s Winter Conference. Richard is a great example of what franchising is all about and, if his past performance is anything to go by, is all set to continue his outstanding record of success.”