TruGreen cut the first turf by going virtual

TruGreen Professional Lawncare is proud to announce its positive step into the world of revolutionised working by going completely virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic to support its stakeholders.

TruGreen is one of the first of six ServiceMaster franchise brands to go fully virtual during lockdown and despite trepidation in the beginning, has continuously provided a full range of support services to franchisees, prospective business owners and customers alike.

Existing TruGreen business owners were able to safely continue to provide lawn care services throughout the pandemic due to strict social distancing and COVID-19 protocols set following government advice. They were also fortunate in that their business management system (exclusive to TruGreen business owners) is entirely remote. As such, it can be accessed anywhere in the world via laptop or tablet, so working from home was no concern.

As a franchisor, we have a responsibility to support our franchisees and were able to do this effectively through using video conferencing technology to hold our regular meetings, as well as utilising other modes of communication rather than face to face. This new way of working has helped us to evaluate what we did in the past and migrate to a much slicker, more innovative approach to communication.

The demand to join the world’s largest lawn care company TruGreen has remained high throughout the pandemic, as it was largely unaffected and we held the first virtual discovery session to a group of prospective TruGreen business owners that they attended virtually from the safety and comfort of their own homes.

We also held the first remote TruGreen Franchise Academy where our new TruGreen business owner completed all, but the practical elements of the academy online, through virtual classes and digital materials.

Our customer queries continued to be answered by our support team who operated the phone lines, email inbox and online chat facility throughout the pandemic, offering support remotely to those customers who needed it.

TruGreen Brand Operations manager, Steve Welch said:

Communication is key to everything we do as a franchisor, so by using the online platform during COVID19, it has allowed us to not only keep our franchisees up to date on the Government guideline and social distancing, but been a great way of staging technical and operational meeting, and for training new business owners that have joined the TruGreen network.

The COVID-19 pandemic has helped us to realise that we can still maintain the exact same high standards that our stakeholders have come accustomed to, through embracing digital technology and innovation, whilst having a lesser impact on the environment. For that reason, we will continue to utilise virtual conferencing and digital forms of communication for the foreseeable.

If you would like to chat more about a TruGreen franchise, contact us today on 0116 275 9005 or at franchisesales@servicemaster.co.uk 

Nationally known, locally owned

We wanted to share the benefits of being a national brand to partner up with, with the opportunity to invest at a local level. A franchise truly does help to give back to your community.

Our brands open doors

TruGreen is not only established nationally, but globally too. Customers are much more likely to choose a service from a name that they recognise, over a name that is unfamiliar.

Local business, local employees

Employees may be more inclined to work for you knowing that the business is locally owned, but is backed by a global brand, such as TruGreen. Often employees worry that their employer may be ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ and see comfort in a well-recognised brand like us, with some legacy.

It’s always good to employ locally too to give back to the local community.

Here today, here tomorrow

Not all local businesses cut the mustard. According to the British Franchise Association, failure rates are as high as 91 percent for non-franchised small businesses in the 1st year of trading. A proven business model, established brand and support from a world-renowned franchisor can help you to be here today and here tomorrow, so that your community can get used to seeing you!

Adding to your community

Your local community can rest assured that the new addition to the community (your TruGreen franchise) will be fully supported by a globally known franchisor.

A franchise can give you a platform to help you to invest in your local community, as well as yourself, with the support of a nationally known brand behind you.

In our case, we are a global brand, offering a proven business model, to give you the recipe of success for starting a lawn care business locally. Call 0116 275 9005 to start your journey today.

Proud members of the British Franchise Association

The British Franchise Association has been responsible for setting high quality standards for UK franchising since 1977 and through this process, the industry has grown to provide fantastic opportunities to UK businesses and people eager to invest with franchise brands, such as those belonging to ServiceMaster, amongst others.

Joining the bfa is no mean feat. In order for our brand TruGreen to receive the prestigious ‘member status’, we had to apply to demonstrate that it meets the four key criteria: that the businesses are viable, franchisable, ethical and fully disclosed.

Of course, our application was successful, as such, our brand TruGreen, was awarded full member status.

Considerable resources and unwavering commitment from the whole team at TruGreen means that we have sustained our membership with the bfa over the last 16 years. Our continued commitment ensures that our brand adds value to the franchise industry, through offering fair and profitable franchise opportunities to our franchise owners.

We have further invested in to the bfa by enrolling members of our support team on to the industry recognised, Qualified Franchise Professional course to help them to learn sound theory, to complement our company knowledge and engage in best practice with other franchisors and franchisees.

As we continue to develop our brand, we will do so in line with the bfa code of ethics, helping to ensure that the franchise sector remains a great place to invest.

If you’d like to find out more about how being a bfa member benefits our franchise owners, give us a call on 0116 275 9005 today.

The first steps to buying a franchise

A franchise is a great route to take if you want to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. A franchise offers the benefit of an established brand, a proven business model and support in the areas where you need it.

There are almost 1,000 franchise systems in the UK to choose from and with that in mind, we’ve put together a few pointers to help you on your way.

Why are you looking at a franchise?

It’s important to know what your ‘why’ is. Why do you want to go in to business?

Here are some common why’s;

  • ‘I want to be my own boss’
  • ‘I’ve noticed a gap in the market’
  • ‘I can do it better than they do it’
  • ‘I want a better lifestyle for my family’
  • ‘I want to invest my redundancy/inheritance’

Once you know why, it’s easier to find something suitable.

What are your options?

Your options are generally narrowed down by the available territory, cost of franchise, commitment required and credentials needed to join. Taking all of those in to account, you’ll still be left with many options, you just need to choose the one most suited to your ‘why’.

Research  

Online research is a good place to start. Take a look on franchise directories, read published franchise articles, check associations such as the BFA(British Franchise Association), visit franchisor websites and follow social media channels for a broad and varied spectrum of opportunities.

For offline research, speak to franchisees, ask for advice from respected sources and where possible, utilise the services of the franchise opportunity for a real insight in to the business.

Enquire & Engage

Once you have narrowed down your search, enquire with the franchise brands that you feel most suit your ‘why’. Here’s your opportunity to continue with deeper research and to form a relationship with the franchisor.

TruGreen Franchise are committed to helping you with your research to ensure that any decision made to join our franchise, is the right one.

Planning and goal setting in business

Planning and setting goals are very much part of your whole journey with TruGreen franchise. We encourage and work with you to put plans in place and implement them, so that you can achieve your goals in business.

Here’s what you need to know;

Business planning

Before joining the franchise, you will be asked to create a business plan, and within that, you will need to share your goals for the business over its first few years and up to the end of the franchise agreement (5 years).

A business plan is also an element of what is required when applying for business finance, so do remember to make sure that it is as clear to follow for someone else as it is for you.

Goal setting

Goals in business could be related to anything, such as, a number of customers, revenue milestone or growth of the business by a certain amount, by a certain date.

When setting goals, it is useful to use the popular acronym ‘SMART’. Possibly the most common version that is used is, S for specific, M for measurable, A for achievable, R for relevant and T for time-bound.

Motivation

It is important to remember that not everyone can be as motivated as you are because after all, it is your business.

Having a goal to work towards creates motivation not only for yourself, but for your team members too. A communal (or company) goal can help to motivate everyone, as the whole team contribute towards it, especially if there is a reward at the end of the tunnel.

Measure of success

Without setting goals in the first place, you would find it difficult to measure success. Achieving a goal is a strong measurement of success and often delivers a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, both of which are extremely healthy in business.

For further information on the initial TruGreen business plan or to discuss our common goals as a franchise network, get in touch today.

Virtual Discovery Sessions

A discovery day is an important part of the journey that you will find yourself on, when looking to partner up with a franchise. Traditionally, you would be invited to the central office, to meet with the key members of the team who would support you in your new venture.

However, due to the unprecedented situation that COVID-19 has brought upon us, we have had to look closely at how we can ensure that we don’t remove discovery days from the process entirely, but make them work just as well remotely, without the need for a physical visit.

We are pleased to be able to offer virtual discovery sessions to those who are interested in finding more about our brand. Here’s how they benefit everyone involved:

No travel

A virtual discovery session removes the need to travel to see us. So, no time spent in the car or on public transport and no costs involved in coming to see us.

Reduced commitment

Travelling hundreds of miles to see us is understandably a large commitment, especially if you are not totally sold on the idea. By removing the miles between us, we feel that it’s much less of a commitment to join and decide whether the opportunity is for you or not. Nothing lost, but potentially a whole lot gained!

Added flexibility

From our point of view, because they take less time (we don’t make them as long because virtual boredom is a thing!), we can fit more in and thus hold them more often, so that more individuals have an opportunity to join.

More participants

Because of the reduced commitment, no need to travel and added flexibility, our virtual discovery sessions do get a really good turnout (although numbers are limited). It is always beneficial to hear from others about what they are looking for in a franchise and to listen to their questions being answered, as you may never have thought of asking them yourself!

If you would like to secure a place on our next Virtual Discovery Session, get in touch with a member of the team today!

Smaller investment franchise opportunities

A TruGreen franchise fits comfortably in to the ‘low investment’ franchise bracket and because of this, it’s natural to have a few questions regarding what you get in return for the smaller fee. Throughout this blog we help to answer those common questions.

Do you get less with a smaller investment?

It’s a common misconception that you have to spend more to get more, in the case of a TruGreen franchise that is simply not true.

Our starter pack includes much of what you need to get you started. It includes the training, marketing launch, products, equipment, machinery, systems and much, much more. The franchise fee covers all of these items, but you actually receive much more value through our support and expertise – it’s difficult to put a ‘price’ on that.

No brick & mortar

There is no need to have a physical location such as an office facility with a TruGreen franchise. This substantially reduces the initial outlay in needing to purchase somewhere, or ongoing overheads for leasing premises.  Our homebased franchise opportunity gives you the opportunity to grow the business first, before investing in premises when the business naturally outgrows your home.

You don’t buy customers and we don’t sell you them

Some larger investments come with the promise of customers. Here at TruGreen, we show you how to market to get customers, rather than giving you them in hand. It’s much more rewarding this way and you’ll find that you’ll build a stronger relationship with your customers.

Are smaller investment franchise opportunities really worth it?

The best way to find out if it is really worth it, is to ask the existing franchise network. Here at TruGreen, we welcome you to speak to any business owners in our existing network to find out more before committing to our franchise.

If you would like to find out more about our low franchise investment opportunity, TruGreen franchise, speak to a member of the team today! 

The Importance of Technology in a Franchise

Technology plays a huge part in business and we at TruGreen understand the importance of having technology present throughout our business model.

As such we have invested heavily in using technology to:

  1. Help customers to find us quicker
  2. Help customers to buy from us more easily
  3. Help business owners to manage their business seamlessly

Website

We have a state-of-the-art website that provides insightful content to prospective customers when they are looking for a lawn care service. The research and development involved before updating our website gave us strong recommendations for how we could build our website to better serve our customers, thus trugreen.co.uk was born.

Our website makes it easy for customers to find out about us and contact us with ease, for further information or to book a service.

BMS

BMS is short for Business Management System and is the product of many consultation meetings with our existing business owners for what they would need or want in a business management system. It has been live for five years now and is constantly evolving to reflect the current demands of a TruGreen business.

BMS allows TruGreen business owners to not only hold customer and employee information, but to schedule lawn care services, review management information and produce invoices, reports and schedules, all for an efficiently run business. It’s our bespoke system and is exclusive to TruGreen business owners.

Our investment in to technology is a given and if you like the sound of being a part of an innovative, technology-embracing franchise, we would love to hear from you.

Ranking #50 in Franchise Direct Top 100 Franchises

#50 TruGreen – Franchise Direct Top 100

We are proud to announce that not only have we made the Franchise Direct Top 100, (which in itself is a fantastic achievement), but we have secured a solid position of number #50in the rankings for our TruGreen brand and franchise opportunity.

Getting a place in the Franchise Direct Top 100 Franchises is no mean feat, those who secured a spot stand out from hundreds of franchisesthat are currently trading in the UK.

All of the Top 100 Franchises share the keys to business success at any level including: a well-defined business identity, a clear business plan, a commitment to training and support, sensitivity to environmental issues, and the ability to innovate to keep pace with ever-changing social and economic conditions.

Franchise Direct used methodology that went beyond system size and financial performance, and in addition, considered a host of criteria including; system size, growth, years established, revenue, market expansion, as well as environmental and social responsibilities.

“It is great news that we have reached #50 position in the Franchise Direct Top 100, which has been achieved through our focussed approach to operating a strong and proven model, and the hard work and dedication of our support team.”

– Steve Welch, TruGreen Brand Manager

Our application ticked the key boxes for the judges to be awarded position #50 in their prestigious top franchise rankings and is testimony to the work that we have done to build a resilient brand that continues to deliver money-making franchise opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs.

If you would like to learn more about our globally recognised brand and franchise opportunity, speak to a member of the team today.

Marketing – How to get customers

Marketing – How to get customers

One of the most common concerns when going in to business is how to get customers. A benefit of teaming up with a franchise such as TruGreen is that worry is quashed! We already have a well-established brand, undertake national marketing activities and support you in undertaking local marketing activities. All to help you to bring new customers on board both at launch, and continually.

The Brand is the Sun

The TruGreen brand has been established in the UK for over 30 years. Our logo and brand colours are easily recognisable and are consistently used in all of our activities. Why? Because it helps us to create brand recognition through repeatedly sharing our brand assets. When our brand is recognisable, many consumers associate professional lawn care with TruGreen and as such, enquire with us.

Centralised Marketing

This is something that you may not benefit from if you didn’t join a franchise such as TruGreen. We undertake marketing activities on a national level to bolster the effectiveness of local advertising. As such we invest heavily in our website, social media, and more recently in to our e-commerce platform, so that consumers can find us and buy from us more easily.

Local Marketing

Local marketing is often the most daunting bit for new franchise owners, but not for new TruGreen franchise owners. During your onboarding we meticulously plan your marketing launch to attract customers for when you open. During your training you learn about marketing and how different marketing activities help to create brand awareness to attract new customers, brand recognition to retain new customers and brand advocacy to encourage your customers to review you positively and recommend you to others.

Support

TruGreen is a franchise opportunity where previous business experience is not necessary. That being said, we can’t expect you to market your business without a helping hand. Within our team of franchise professionals, you will work closely with the whole marketing team and in particular your TruGreen marketing manager to build a local marketing plan, update your website, create any marketing material and to generally support you in marketing your services to your local customers.

TruGreen is a sales and marketing franchise opportunity. As such our commitment to marketing is huge as it plays an essential part in helping to grow your business.

Find out more about our marketing efforts by speaking with a member of the team today!

Getting the most from the Franchise

Getting the most from the Franchise 

Being part of a franchise is a choice and every individual has their reasons for joining. There are costs to joining a franchise, but the benefits far outweigh these. Therefore, we recommend getting as much out of your franchise journey as possible.  

Support  

The support you can receive as a franchisee in all stages of your journey is truly invaluable. At the beginning you may require hand holding time whilst you find your feet in a very new world to you. In the middle you could feel a little lost and need guidance to get back on track to move the needle forward. Towards the end of your journey, you’ll seek to realise your investment and need assistance in preparing your business for sale. We’re here for all parts of your journey in whatever line of support that you need. Our marketing professionals are on hand to help you to sell the sizzle of your services, operations team to get or keep your business in tip top shape and our IT, HR and admin teams are there to support the whole business function.  

Training  

All new franchisees secure a place on our training academy. But as a franchisee, you also benefit from ongoing training opportunities in marketing, sales, business and much, much more. It’s not compulsory, but much of our training is complimentary and there to be used. 

Buy small and save big  

As a small business you may encounter poor economies of scale. Not as a franchisee! We buy big so that you don’t have to and we encourage our networks to tell us what they’d like to see in the warehouse so that we can buy it in bulk and pass the savings of doing so back to you.   

Network Meetings  

You are never alone in a franchise. Not only do you receive the support that you need from a world-renowned franchisor, but you also receive support from fellow like-minded business owners who have likely ‘been there and done that’. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet with them regularly, and upon onboarding, you will be encouraged to contact your fellow peers to establish relationships right away.  

Ideas Review Council  

We are passionate about ensuring our franchisees have a voice. As such, we have a panel of franchisees who have been voted a seat by the franchise network, to share feedback, issues, guidance, recommendations and praise back to us for action or notation.  

There’s so much to get from a world-renowned franchise such as TruGreen and everything that we offer is to help you on your way to business success. 

To find out more speak to a member of our team today!

Advantages of Franchising

Advantages of Franchising 

Franchising offers a great opportunity to go in to business for yourself, but not by yourself 

Plus, many other reasons that you may not have thought of.  

Established Brand  

For us, the brand is the sun. It’s at the centre of everything we do and everything we do radiates from it. For TruGreen in particular, it’s been established over 40 years and is a familiar name within the industry. Having an established brand opens doors for you and can help you to secure customers who are looking for a name that they can trust, that has been around a while.  

Proven Business Model  

The phrase ‘been there, done that, got the t-shirt’ perfectly describes why it’s great to have a business that’s already made mistakes so that you don’t have to. Equally, the wins are noted and form part of the successful business model today. Going it alone runs the risk of making costly mistakes that can not only set you back, but make you bust!  

Economies of Scale  

Being part of a franchise enables you to harness the buying power of a much larger organisation. We are able to purchase products, equipment and supplies on your behalf at a cheaper rate as we can buy in bulk and pass the savings on to you.  

Support  

We’re in it together, every step of the way. You’ll not only receive unlimited support from our team of franchise professionals, but also from an existing franchise network of business owners who are on hand to give support and advice. We encourage communication in the network and regularly hold gatherings where you can meet face to face.  

Marketing  

Utilising our expert knowledge and guidance you will undertake local marketing activities, which in turn will generate interest in your services for you to convert in to paying customersWe are stronger together and as such, much of our marketing is done on a national scale with a local feel so that you get more bang for your buck. The best example for this is our state-of-the-art website. Have a look for yourself at www.trugreen.co.uk   

These are just a few of the many reasons why being a part of a franchise can help you to realise your dreams of becoming your own boss with the comfort of an established brand, proven model and unlimited support of a world-leading franchisor such as TruGreen.

Speak to a member of the team today! 

cardiff

New lawncare franchise in Cardiff

“Oh, what’s occurring?!” A new lawncare business in Cardiff, that’s what! A new lawn care business has been launched in Cardiff, The Vale & Bridgend by local entrepreneurs Peter and Michelle Lewis.

Peter and Michelle have both been in the banking sector, specifically in IT since 1980, managing big data migrations for European clients. They decided one day they’d had enough of the corporate banking world and went on the search for greener pastures, that’s where they came across TruGreen and the rest was history!

They are both very keen travellers, love to grab their backpacks and trek around the world while raising money for Marie Curie of which they have raised over £50,000 in the last two years.

“We decided to choose TruGreen as it stood out from the other opportunities we looked into, especially with it incorporating a healthy lifestyle. Even before we started our business the TruGreen and ServiceMaster staff have been friendly and very supportive.” Said Peter, Co-owner of TruGreen Cardiff, The Vale & Bridgend.

As the two of them are keen gardeners they both agreed that a lawn care business was the perfect opportunity for them to continue their hobby, and make money from something they love to do.

“I have an MBE in Business & Administration, so will be the main person for the structuring of the business, however, we want to both be out and about assisting the local residents in saving the environment by keeping fake grass away and creating green luscious and healthy lawns instead. Plus, we both HATE WEEDS!” Added Michelle, Co-owner of TruGreen Cardiff, The Vale & Bridgend.

For the first year of business, Peter and Michelle are wanting to grow their business and be known as the premier lawn care company in the South Wales area.

“It is great to welcome Peter and Michelle Lewis to TruGreen Professional Lawncare, and I am sure that their focussed approach to business and in-depth knowledge of the local area, will prove another major asset to the ever-growing TruGreen Network, in offering our customers the very best in bespoke lawncare.” Added TruGreen Brand Manager, Steve Welch

You can contact TruGreen Cardiff here.

Mental Wellbeing during Social Distancing & Self Isolation

With many of us perhaps feeling concerned, stressed or panicked by the current situation, we’ve put together a few ways of looking after your mental-wellbeing during these challenging times. The below is not medical advice but aimed to help a little as you face life’s current worries.  

Connect with people  

If you are in self-isolation, you may start to feel just that, isolated. What better opportunity than now to re-connect with old friends, keep in touch with family and check in with your nearest and dearest. Video calls are a great way to stay connected but why not brighten someone’s day by sending them a hand-written letter? Also, a lovely thing for your children to do as part of their home schooling.   

Help Others and Offer Support 

Being there to help others can be a mood boost for both parties. Local support groups can offer suggestions as to how you can help your local community. Maybe a phone call to an elderly resident is needed or perhaps you’re able to pick up medication for someone who is self-isolating. Little actions can go a long way.  

On a larger scale, the NHS has implemented a campaign for “NHS Volunteer Responders.” This is “a new group that will carry out simple, non-medical tasks to support people in England who have been asked to shield themselves from coronavirus because of underlying health conditions. They will be used by healthcare professionals to make sure people who are highly vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to stay safe and well at home.” You can see if you are eligible to help via the following website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/participation/get-involved/volunteering/nhs-volunteer-responders/ 

Relaxation techniques 

Colouring In – Not just for kids! Adult colouring in has taken off in a big way in the last few years. It’s a great way to practice Mindfulness and switch off from the world around. You can print out designs to colour in at homehttps://www.justcolor.net/ or even colour in digitally on your computer or phone. https://colormandala.com/ 

Yoga / Meditation – you can join in live via various online classes or YouTube have tonnes of instructional videos for everyone, from beginner to pro.  

Reading – why not take a moment to switch off and escape the world around you. Reading is great for focussing the mind and also a great way to begin an effective sleep routine.  

Sleep Routine 

Maintaining a good sleep routine is always important but with many now having a less structured day, perhaps it’s time to focus on this. It’s easy to fall into the trap of staying up a little later and snoozing the alarm clock a few more times when your daily routine is not so rigid.  

If you’re having trouble sleeping, the NHS website offers some top tips: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/sleep/ 

With daylight hours increasing this Sunday, 29th Marchnow is the ideal opportunity to set a new sleeping pattern for the Summer months.  

Exercise 

Current NHS advice permits “one form of outdoor exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.” It is also important to remember to maintain a 2 metre distance from others when outside. So, how does exercise boost your mood? Physical activity causes the brain to release endorphins. These are chemicals which, in simple terms, cause you to feel happier and improve feelings of well-being.  

If you are unable to go out at the moment, why not participate in an online exercise class. From circuit training to ballet, there is something for everyone! 

Remember to take into account your own fitness levels and health/medical conditions before embarking on an exercise regime. 

Content is based on the Government’s health guidance and Covid-19 measures at the time of writing. Please refer to the government website ensure that this information is current.  

If you have concerns regarding your mental health and well-being, further information, help and support can be found by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Keeping Positive

In these unprecedented times, you, like many others around the world may be feeling a little low in spirits. Things may seem a little gloomy but there are rays of positivity shining through.  

We’ve put together a little blog on some of the lovely things which we’ve seen in the last few days in the hope of sharing a little happiness.  

Rainbows Pictures Springing up in Windows 

The trend started online, following the closure of UK schools on Friday 20th March.  

With the view of “spreading hope” the rainbows also provide a lovely bit of positivity for when you are out and about during your daily exercise. If you’re out for a walk / run / cycle, see how many are around in your area.  

Balcony Singing, Italy

You’ve more than likely seen some of the balcony singing taking place throughout Italy recently.  

Here’s one of the best video’s we’ve seen of music bringing people together, boosting morale and staying positive.  

 

Connecting More  

Many of us are downloading the “House Party” app. It’s essentially a video call app with function for multiple participants. It’s less formal than other video calling platforms such as Microsoft Teams and really simple to use. This app is really useful in ensuring that we still remain connected, even with social distancing measures firmly in place.

Support for our NHS workers 

On Thursday 26th March, Lincoln Cathedral will glow blue as a mark of support to our amazing NHS workers: 

This will be followed by the Nationwide “Clap for our Carers” campaign at 8pmWhereby, people across the UK can clap from their gardens, front doors and balconies to show their support and give thanks to doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists and other NHS staff, working tirelessly to help those affected by the coronavirus. 

Supermarkets are already showing their gratitude to NHS workers such as in this clip from Tesco in Swansea, where staff applauded and gave flowers during designated NHS staff shopping hour. 

 

And finally, a brilliant video of staff at Basildon NHS keeping themselves motivated in these challenging times… 

 

We’ll keep you posted on our social channels of more positivity and other useful pieces of information throughout the current situation! Follow TruGreen on Facebook and Twitter.

How to stay motivated working from home

Our TruGreen franchise opportunity initially means the business owner can work from the home office in between lawn care treatments in the early days to save on premises costs, so following these tips can help if you are not used to it!

Tip #1 – Create An Office

You may be tempted to sit on the sofa or lie in bed whilst working from home, this is a mistake as it will demotivate you.

Dedicate a room specifically as your office, away from any distractions, like Television or other family members/housemates.

Make sure your office is tidy and try and keep it as similar to your work desk as you can, this way you’ll get into your work mindset.

Tip #2 – Wake Up On Time

You may be tempted to lie in if you’re working from home, thinking;

“It’s alright, the boss will never know”.

Don’t be tempted! Wake up at the normal time you would if you were going to work, have your breakfast and morning coffee as you normal and start work at the time you usually do.

This will create in your mind the normal workday ethic and you’ll become used to it in no time at all.

Tip #3 – Stay On Schedule

Try not to change your normal working schedule and keep it as similar as you can.

If you have an online calendar, create personal events and reminders that tell you when to shift gears and start on new tasks.

Check your emails at the same times you would if you were at work and add in new tasks where you can.

Tip #4 – Stay Off Social Media

We’re always tempted with our personal mobiles when we’re at home, but you wouldn’t be allowed them at work, so why should you be using them when working from home?

A quick tip to help stay off social media is to log out of every account.

You might even consider working primarily in a private or if using Chrome, an “Incognito” browser window.

This is all of course if don’t work with social media on a work-related basis, and then you really don’t want to avoid going on it!

Tip #5 – Stay Connected

You need to make sure you stay connected to your team and other teams within your business.

Instant messaging and video conferencing tools can make it easy to check in with co-workers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture.

Here are few instant messaging and video conferencing tools you can use:

  • Microsoft Teams– If your business uses Office 365, Microsoft Teams has instant messaging and video conferencing options to keep you connected
  • WhatsApp– Of course WhatsApp is in the list, it’s the most popular instant messaging tool in the world and can easily keep you connected to your teams
  • Slack– A great collaboration tool that can keep your team on track to completing tasks, also has an instant messaging section to help stay connected
  • Zoom– A video conferencing tool to keep you connected, the free version limits meetings for over 3 people to 40 minutes at a time
  • Skype – Another well-known platform that can be used for video conferencing and instant messaging

For further information regarding our franchise opportunities from home, speak to a member of the TruGreen Franchise Sales Team on 0116 275 9005 or email franchisesales@servicemaster.co.uk

Homeschooling from a Full Time Working Mum… How to Survive!

If like Vicky,  homeschooling wasn’t something that you had planned for, the below blog may be of use to you whilst you are trying to build your business and ensure your child/children gets the educational support that they need. 

Written by Victoria Tayler, Commercial Marketing Manager and Full Time Mum 

My name is Vicky, I am the Commercial Marketing Manager at ServiceMaster (of which TruGreen is part of). I have two children, one of Primary School age and one in Secondary School, my challenge is to keep them entertained and somewhat educated while I work full time, from home (mostly) 

Keep To A School Day Routine  

To keep disruption to a minimum and help keep the kids focussed on their schoolwork, try sticking to a school day routine as much as you can. 

We are starting school at 9am each school day, and Ive found a fantastic YouTube channel ‘The Body Coach’ who are streaming live PE videos each school day. Take a look here – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ 

What better way to keep the kids active and get them ready for learning? If you want to know why exercising in the morning is so beneficial, this is a useful read: https://www.myactivesg.com/read/2018/2/6-reasons-why-morning-exercise-is-important-for-your-health 

Scheduling The Kids Day 

Most schools have provided a good number of online resources, so why not structure your learning day/week into a school timetable. Evidence shows that children do best when they can follow a routine, this will also make it easier for you to keep on top of things.  

  MONDAY  TUESDAY  WEDNESDAY  THURSDAY 
09.00 – 09.30  PE  PE  PE  PE 
09.30 – 10.15  MATHS  MATHS  MATHS  MATHS 
10.15 – 10.30  BREAK  BREAK  BREAK  BREAK 
10.30 – 11.45  ENGLISH  ENGLISH  ENGLISH  ENGLISH 
11.45 –  13.00  ART/CRAFT  ART/CRAFT  ART/CRAFT  ART/CRAFT 

 

Shhhh… I’m thinking of doing the Science bit at the weekend so I can have some fun too! 

Don’t forget, it’s also important to allow time for the kids to have fun and to entertain themselves, all work and no play is going to make this a long journey and well, we’ve got work to do too. 

If you are looking for more inspiration from an education point of view, below are some other links to a wide range of websites with homeschooling ideas. 

https://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/home-school-ideas.html 

https://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/education-1071/home-education-873/653184-ideas-homeschooling.html 

https://www.edplace.com/blog/homeschooling/lesson-planning-and-ideas-home-education-days-across-the-uk 

https://www.homeschool-activities.com/ 

https://www.theschoolrun.com/home-education-step-by-step

Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained 

Are you looking for ways to entertain the kids that isn’t YouTube or computer games? 

Make the most of your garden or outside space, we all need some fresh air and sunshine, yes, it is out as I sit here writing this, stuck in the office and looking out of the window. As we all need a bit of a break from work and learning, I thought I’d also share a range of websites with ideas for fun things to do, so here you are: 

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/how-to/g1389/diy-kids-activities/  

https://www.toucanbox.com/activities/fun-things-to-do-at-home-with-your-kids 

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/best-indoor-kid-crafts-activities.html 

https://www.verywellfamily.com/absolutely-free-activities-for-kids-2997490 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/ 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools/family-activities/Activities 

YouTube Channels: 

  • Crash Course Kids 
  • Science Channel 
  • SciShow Kids 
  • National  Geographic Kids 
  • Free School 
  • Geography Focus 
  • TheBrainScoop 
  • SciShow 
  • Kids Learning Tube 
  • Geeek Gurl Diaries 
  • Mike Likes Science 
  • Science Max 
  • SoulPancake 

 This isn’t going to be easy by any means, I’ve already needed to remind my kids that this isn’t a holiday but hopefully this will help keep you sane that little bit longer and at least give you some ideas to help you through it.  

My Own Personal Favourites;  

  • Home economics – Teach them how to make a cup of tea, for me of course, as I’m busy working! 
  • Science – How washing up liquid removes grease from the saucepan and other cooking utensils 
  • Mechanical Engineering – How to operate a hoover, the kids always think it’s a hard job! 

Written by Victoria Tayler, Commercial Marketing Manager and Full Time Mum 

National Franchise Exhibition 2020

National Franchise Exhibition 13th and 14th March 2020

TruGreen are proud to be exhibiting at the National Franchise Exhibition at The NEC Birmingham on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March 2020

Here at TruGreen we are a huge fan of spreading the word and sharing the vision for our franchise opportunities. We strongly believe that the franchise exhibitions in which we attend, allow us to reach more people across the country, widening both theirs and our horizons.

It promises to be a fantastic couple of days and not just for those considering buying a franchise but for existing business owners too. Over 40 sessions will take place over Friday and Saturday so even the most experienced franchisees should be able to leave the event with new insights. There will be informative sessions such as the “Growing Your Own Business” seminar featuring interactive workshops on topics such as PR, marketing techniques and sales skills. If you are attending, please visit us to say hello.

Attending the Franchise Exhibition is the perfect opportunity to not only meet us, but to meet other franchisors too. Research is key in the early days of a new business journey and is much easier if you can do much of it all in one go!

If you’d like to attend, you’ll need to apply for a FREE ticket. You can do so [HERE].

You can also book an exclusive 1-2-1 slot to chat with our franchise recruitment team and brand managers

Click the dates to register your interest for Friday 13th or Saturday 14th October.

We’re on stand C70

The National Franchise Exhibition 2020
Hall 7
National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
Birmingham
B40 1NT
13th & 14th March 2020

We hope to see you there!

nfe-march-20

 

TruGreen – Top 100 Elite Franchise 2020

We are super proud to announce that TruGreen are part of the Elite Franchise Top 100 Franchises for 2020

Elite Franchise Top 100 is all about celebrating superlative businesses across the UK.

It recognises the sector’s brightest businesses and ranks them according to a broad range of criteria from their financial performance and heritage in the industry to their contribution to the community and the way they embrace innovation. Ranking applicants from 100 to one, the guide defines the best opportunities in the UK, whether they’re a flourishing franchise at the top of their game or a budding business making its first inroads into the industry.

Be inspired, be in awe and be aware that the brands that make it to the Elite Franchise 100 are simply the best.

 

TruGreen featured in 83rd place in the guide and was joined by fellow franchise brands under the ServiceMaster franchisor umbrella, ServiceMaster Clean (25), Merry Maids (63), Rosemary Bookkeeping (84), ServiceMaster Restore (74) and Furniture Medic (97).

 

TruGreen Brand Manager, Steve Welch commented:


As one of the ServiceMaster Brands, TruGreen Professional Lawncare prides itself in operating a highly effective model, with unrivalled support, and we are pleased that our efforts are once again recognised with our inclusion in the Elite franchise 100.”

National Franchise Exhibition

National Franchise Exhibition 4th and 5th October

TruGreen are proud to be exhibiting at the National Franchise Exhibition at The NEC Birmingham on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 2019

Here at TruGreen we are a huge fan of spreading the word and sharing the vision for our franchise opportunities. We strongly believe that the franchise exhibitions in which we attend, allow us to reach more people across the country, widening both theirs and our horizons.

It promises to be a fantastic couple of days and not just for those considering buying a franchise but for existing business owners too. Over 60 sessions will take place over Friday and Saturday so even the most experienced franchisees should be able to leave the event with new insights. There will be informative sessions such as the “Growing Your Own Business Conference” featuring interactive workshops on topics such as PR, marketing techniques and sales skills. If you are attending, please visit us to say hello.

Attending the Franchise Exhibition is the perfect opportunity to not only meet us, but to meet other franchisors too. Research is key in the early days of a new business journey and is much easier if you can do much of it all in one go!

If you’d like to attend, you’ll need to apply for a FREE ticket. You can do so [HERE].

You can also book an exclusive 1-2-1 slot to chat with our franchise recruitment team and brand managers

Click the dates to register your interest for Friday 4th or Saturday 5th October.

We’re on stand M100

The National Franchise Exhibition 2019
Hall 3
National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
Birmingham
B40 1NT
4th & 5th October 2019

We hope to see you there!