Father-daughter team build a £3m business with Bluebird Care
After 35 years in the Ministry of Defence, David Howard wanted something different, something personal. In 2011, aged 55, he invested his lump sum redundancy payment into a Bluebird Care home care franchise in Milton Keynes. Thirteen years on, the business turns over £3m a year, spans two territories, and is now co-directed by his daughter, Catherine Slater.
“I had always wanted to run my own business,” says David, “but with little knowledge of the care sector from a business viewpoint, I was reticent of going it alone. A franchise structure could provide me with the support and expertise I needed.”
The inspiration for entering the care industry was deeply personal. David’s sister suffered a catastrophic accident that left her quadriplegic, exposing him to the inconsistencies in care quality that he was determined to address. Bluebird Care’s model of high-quality, personalised support aligned immediately with his own values, and its strong relationships with existing franchise partners clinched the decision.
Starting with no customers and no carers, David is the first to admit the early months were difficult. But with Bluebird Care providing regular visits, hands-on marketing and recruitment guidance, and no shortage of moral support, the business found its footing. Within a year, it was growing steadily, a trajectory it has maintained ever since.
In 2019, Catherine left the teaching profession and joined the business. She began as a carer, learning the operation from the ground up before stepping into the office and eventually becoming a director in 2022. The same year, they launched their second territory in Northampton and Daventry.
“The main benefits of working with the right family member are trust, familiarity and commitment,” David explains. “It also goes down well with customers, who feel more comfortable dealing with local family-owned businesses rather than faceless corporate entities.”
The partnership has allowed David to step back from day-to-day management while Catherine drives operations forward.
For anyone contemplating buying a franchise to become a business owner, David’s advice is straightforward:
“Do not be afraid of changing career, it gave me a new lease of life.”
His one essential caveat: choose your franchisor wisely. “I would not be where I am today without them.”