Award-winning virtual outsourcing agency Get Ahead is delighted to welcome the 10th franchisee to its growing franchise network. Based in Guildford, Joanne McGowan will be running the East Surrey region.
After graduating with a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies Joanne embarked straight into a career in business, running her own dance school for nine years. Showing entrepreneurial flair, Joanne subsequently ran her own party business and worked as a freelance digital marketing consultant, as well as carrying out in-house digital marketing and social media roles.
Joanne said: “Throughout my career, I have always wanted to help people. From helping children learn to dance, to helping parents celebrate their children’s birthdays and helping businesses to grow through marketing, assisting others has always been a core aspect of everything I do. Though I had enjoyed working in-house for a few years, I felt the time was right for a new challenge. To use all my experience and start something new for me.
I knew franchising could be a great way into business and decided to ask long-term connection Rebecca Newenham, founder and director of Get Ahead, for some advice. I had seen her successfully build her franchise over the past few years, as well as used Get Ahead’s services when I was running my party business. When Rebecca said that my local Get Ahead franchise was available, it felt like suddenly everything fell into place. It just seemed right. As if it was meant to happen. All the branding, systems and processes are set up and ready for me to use straight away. There’s already a team of experts on hand to deliver a wide range of business support services. I really can be up and running from day one.
As part of my due diligence, I did speak to some of the other franchisees who gave very consistent feedback. I felt a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork from them all which is so valuable. I know first-hand that running your own business can be quite lonely sometimes. By running a Get Ahead franchise I really feel that I will have the best of both worlds – being in control of my own business, yet being supported by a wider team too.”
Over the next few months, Joanne is looking forward to making lots of new connections and understanding what businesses need as they emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Joanne added: “So many organisations have been through so much change and upheaval over the last 18 months. I strongly believe that the Get Ahead team is perfectly placed to help businesses recover and grow stronger, with flexible services to suit their needs, both now and in the future.”
Rebecca Newenham, founder and director of Get Ahead said: “I have known Joanne for many years and always been impressed by her business acumen. Having run her own businesses, she knows exactly how our clients feel and can provide the support they need to grow. With our first international franchisee coming soon, along with existing franchisees in Berkshire & North Hants, East Midlands, Leeds, South Yorkshire, Suffolk & Essex, West London, West Surrey and Wirral & Cheshire West, as well as East Surrey, I am excited about the future of Get Ahead.”
Get Ahead VA offers nationwide marketing and business support services enabling businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to get ahead. From bookkeeping to blogging, database management to design and telephone answering to Twitter, their team of highly skilled virtual business experts delivers support on an hourly, project or ongoing basis.
To find out more about franchising opportunities with Get Ahead VA, click the button below to get in touch.
