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Alan Wilkinson – Franchise Consultant
I started my career, straight from University in banking, and spent 7 years working in a high street branch of a well known banking group. This gave me a solid grounding in recruitment, training, mentoring, selling and management. I took my first Branch Managers position in 1991 in Huddersfield.
I then managed a branch of a national recruitment company in Sheffield for a year or so, before taking my first venture into franchising back in 1995.
I then spent the next 10 years working with various different franchisors, in such diverse sectors as flooring, contract cleaning, parcel delivery and chemical distribution. I held positions ranging from sales executive, to Franchise Recruitment Manager, Franchise General Manager and Managing Director.
I have also been a franchisee for two different franchisors. I have owned and operated a multi van, depot based courier franchise in Leeds, as well as a single operator, home based sales franchise in Huddersfield.
Then, in 2006 I joined The Franchising Centre as a Franchise Consultant. I have worked with businesses throughout the North of England and Scotland, assisting them with the franchising of their businesses. The bulk of my work is done with businesses that have an established track record, and that want to speed up their growth and expand their business by franchising.
I have worked in diverse market sectors, including children’s activities, healthy living, renewable energy, van based home delivery, accessory retailing, heating, removals, gardening and publication.
My clients include well known brands such as Ringtons, Blazes, Ecoliving, Envirovent, Two Men and a Truck, and many more.
I was the second person in the UK to obtain the Diploma in Franchise Management (Dip FM), and in the summer of 2011 became the first to be awarded the Qualified Franchise Professional (QFP) certification by the British Franchise Association. This makes me the only person to hold both qualifications.
Outside of my business, I am a family man, with a wife and two daughters.
I enjoy cycling, and have done several charity events and sportives, including the Brian Robinson Challenge.
Alan with Brian Robinson, UK Olympic cycling legend and the first English man to win a stage of the Tour De France.
I am a Governor for our local secondary school, and chair the Personnel committee. In 2009 I was joint chair of a community action group set up to protest against the proposed closure of the school. We fought and won this campaign, and rallied the support of the whole community.
Alan outside Castle Hall School campaigning against its closure.
On the back of this in December 2009 I was recognised as a community champion by the then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
Alan in Downing Street collecting his Community Champion award from Gordon Brown PM.
I also have an allotment, and grow vegetables and fruit, which helps to sustain our healthy lifestyle.
I believe that it is important to have a good work life balance, and am lucky enough to have achieved this in my work as the leading Franchise Consultant in the North of England with The Franchise Development Centre.
