Mark Tomlinson Joined WPA Healthcare Practice in September 2010

Name: Mark Tomlinson
Location: Gloucestershire, covering Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and Worcestershire
Date Franchise Launched: September 2010

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?

I had spent 27 years in Banking, in TSB initially and then Lloyds TSB since the 1995 merger. I had worked in branch banking for the first 12 years, including four years as a Branch Manager, before moving into a range of different Head Office roles from 1994 onwards. My last few years in the Bank saw me working between Bristol & London.

Can you also tell us about the franchise you have bought?

I am a Senior Healthcare Partner for WPA Healthcare Practice Plc, which effectively means that my role is that of an Account Manager - a combination of taking on new WPA members (individuals, families and SME businesses), and then looking after a growing portfolio with information, advice & support.

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose your industry? And why did you choose your franchise?

I was attracted to Franchising as I wanted to build my own business over time, but with the support/reassurance of an established business/operating model.

I didn’t so much choose the industry initially, but was very impressed with WPA as a business/Franchisor. Partly because of the fact that WPA are a not-for-profit Provider, and the positive impact this has on their ethos, and partly down to the obvious quality of the organisation and the other Franchisees that I met whilst undertaking my due diligence.

That said, my family and I had benefitted significantly from Private Health Insurance whilst in the Corporate world, so I was already a very positive advocate for the need to take responsibility for our own healthcare for greater choice/control, even though the NHS is a tremendous organisation in very many ways.

How did you raise the finance?

I was able to secure Voluntary Redundancy from LloydsTSB as there was significant restructuring needed following the 2010 Credit Crunch and the disastrous takeover of HBOS.

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?

Initial training was a mix of pre-training preparation, reading, and product knowledge, followed by an intensive week long residential course and subsequent additional distance-type learning/support. There’s also a well-established Mentor scheme for the first two years, couple with an ongoing Academy for those in their first two years with WPA.

Healthcare Partners also now work towards an appropriate Chartered Insurance Institute qualification over a two year period (and subsequent supporting CPD).

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?

Initially it was very much a case of raising awareness of WPA and, over time, taking on new Members (both companies and families). For me personally this involved a fair amount of Networking.

The last 4-5 years though have seen that increasingly gravitate towards looking after my growing WPA portfolio, supporting the policy administration, claims and annual policy renewals (and changes), although I still do a degree of networking each week.

What challenges have you faced?

Like most 'start-ups' it takes a while to become an established business, and for the peaks/troughs of income vs costs to be less pronounced. My first few years initially were also in the challenging environment of austerity and so it was probably only 2013/14 onwards that I was able to be 100% confident that my business would be sufficiently successful.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?

Completely. My working week is generally very varied, and extremely flexible. And I can be confident in the fact that I get out, broadly, what I put into my business in terms of time, effort & focus.

My success is largely down to my own efforts – but coupled with WPA’s excellent products, H/O staff and support for the front-end Healthcare Partners. It’s also very rewarding when Members appreciate the benefits and advice that they’ve received have had a hugely positive impact on their, or their families, health.

I have also been a Senior Healthcare Partner for the last couple of years, which – as a member of the South West leadership team – brings an additional dimension in providing help, advice and support to new Healthcare Partners.

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?

Choose your Franchisor carefully and wisely and then Keep The Faith, as success isn’t instant, but takes a real investment of time and hard work.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?

Desire, Persistence, and a genuine Customer Focus – and a successful Franchisor

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to grow my Member Portfolio steadily and organically, whilst ensuring I can maintain excellent levels of service and support for the WPA members I look after. Medium to Long-Term I may well want to look at developing administration/renewals support in my business so that I can gradually switch my balance towards increasing personal time for me and my family, whilst maintaining a successful and stable/growing portfolio.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?

I would have maybe put a CRM system in place to support the very significant number of networking events I was attending each week. Not necessarily as relevant now though due to internal WPA developments, and the increasing sophistication of Social Media.

Otherwise I’m extremely happy with how it’s progressed over time and was honoured to have been awarded WPA’s South West Healthcare Partner Of The Year award three years back.

To find out how you can start your own WPA Healthcare Practice Franchise just click below

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