The government’s boiler scrappage scheme has boosted Blazes’ enquiries by 1,000%.

The scheme, which was announced in Alistair Darling’s pre-budget report at the end of last year and launched on 5 January, aimed to encourage the estimated 4.5 million households with G-rated boilers to replace them with A-rated boilers that emit less carbon.

The response from the public has been so enthusiastic that the Energy Savings Trust, which oversees the scheme, has struggled to clear the backlog of applications. In the first month alone, around 40,000 people applied for the £400 cash-back vouchers, snapping up a third of the 125,000 available.

Steve Bate took on a Blazes home maintenance franchise in October 2009 as a bolt-on to his existing business.

énergie Fitness Club

Located in Doha, Qatar the fitness franchise’s first centre is a £2m facility boasting state-of-the-art cardiovascular and resistance equipment, dedicated boxing/combat studio, locker rooms, private personal training studio, a VIP locker room, as well as dedicated customer amenities and services.

The opening will also bring énergie’s unique empower programme to the Middle East, which offers a six-week results guaranteed fitness solution as a means of introduction to a fitness club.

An authority on sales and marketing in the franchise world answers the questions someone buying a franchise might ask.

Andrew Cutler, sales and franchise director of greeting card franchise Card Connection, understands buying a new franchise is a big step, so wanted to help you make the right decision – which might be not buying a franchise at all.

Are you motivated enough? 

Andrew’s advice: Running a business is hard work; if you’re leaving paid employment to run a franchise because you think it will be easier, think again!  The good news is that you will be directly rewarded for the energy and effort you put into your enterprise, but remember running any business requires hard work, long hours and commitment in order to be successful. 

Planning to grow his

Steve’s partner for the past year, Claire Power-Browne, had just spent four years as the overseas programme manager for a charity, with wide-ranging responsibilities.

“Every day was different and during that time I gained a diverse skill set,” she says. “So if you need a goat milking, I’m your woman!”

From Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser: A Tenbury woman is joining the growing ranks of young mums going into business.

Jennifer Fish, aged 35, is putting her design skills to good use with her Activ Web Design business.

Working from home means that Jennifer can balance running a successful business with looking after her two young children, who are aged just four and six, and she also has a 16-year-old stepson.

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Live4Soccer has recruited three new franchisees, in Nottingham, Oldham and the North London/St Albans area.

Following a successful week of training at the football franchise's HQ, all three new franchisees are ready to hit the ground running with customers already placing orders, providing them with the opportunity to smash their month-one targets within their first week of trading.

Tim Latham joined

Tim, who is based in Warwick, began working from home with the top consultancy franchise in June 2009.

He spent 15 years in the automotive industry, working in various sales and marketing roles, most recently helping to launch the award-winning Jaguar XF in the UK.

FS Blog: Why did you decide to buy a franchise?

Tim Latham: I was a little frustrated by the corporate environment. I often thought about working for myself but didn’t have the ‘killer business idea’ or marketable experience to go it alone.

The maid franchise continues to lead the field in using the latest technology to enable franchise prospects to contact them online, and ask questions by texting or by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Maid2Clean

Managing director of the leading domestic cleaning franchise, Mike Hanrahan, says:

“Graeme has consistently outperformed his business plans and he deserves this prestigious accolade.”

If you’re busy or work full-time, you no longer have to worry if the cleaners are doing a proper job.

Top cleaning franchise Maid2Clean has been granted its second trademark for Maid2Clean CICO, a service their franchisees can offer to clients to check the times the cleaner ‘Checks In and Checks Out’ (CICO) whilst working on the premises.

Using a free phone number, the cleaner dials from a client’s home and this updates the database with a check in and check-out system. You then get a report with your invoice, so you know you’re getting value for money from your cleaner.