Taking on a franchise can be a great way to achieve the ambition of running your own business. But the franchise industry is vast. Choosing a franchise is vitally important and requires research and a lot of careful consideration.

Who could have predicted the turn of events this year? The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been profound and it’s left people in a state of uncertainly about what the future holds. That inevitably includes wondering what lies ahead in terms of their career. Some people might have been reviewing their career situation before the pandemic took hold, and contemplating making a move into the world of running their own business, including the possibility of taking on a franchise.

If you are one of those people, you might well be asking yourself whether you should put those plans on hold. Our advice would be no, don’t put those plans on hold… but with some caveats attached.

A former firefighter with three decades’ experience is to spearhead a fire & security firm’s latest Yorkshire franchise.

Henryk Matysiak, 57, has been appointed director of Jackson Fire & Security’s new Sheffield franchise – the company’s second Yorkshire base having opened in Leeds in 2016.

A former asset manager for the UK’s busiest airport has become manager of a fire & security firm’s first London franchise.

Martin Lawton, 45, is putting his experience in life safety at Heathrow Airport to use as he takes the reigns at Jackson Fire & Security’s expansion in Kingston-upon-Thames.