We have both had long and fulfilling careers in the police force. Ann, started in 1979, and Kevin followed in 1981. Kevin retired in 2013 as an Inspector with Merseyside Police, while Ann continues to work part-time as a civilian with Cheshire Police after serving as a Constable with Merseyside.
Throughout our time in the police, we worked in a variety of roles, from front-line uniform services to firearms, traffic duties, communications, and strategic operations, as well as plain-clothes work. These experiences gave us valuable skills that we’ve since brought into our business life.
When we started thinking about life after the police, we were drawn to the idea of a franchise rather than setting up on our own. What really appealed to us was the supportive network, the solid training, and easy-to-use systems that a franchise provides. This meant we could concentrate on building a strong client base while the franchise took care of the back-office tasks.
After months of research, browsing Google, visiting franchise websites, and speaking to one of their franchisees, we knew GoCruise was the right choice for us. Later, it became GoCruise & Travel, and it fit exactly what we were looking for: no heavy performance targets, excellent support, and a real focus on helping us grow our knowledge and customer base. We used part of our retirement pension to finance the franchise, and we were determined to recover that investment quickly – which we managed to do in just 18 months.
We believe that the skills we developed during our police careers have helped us thrive as franchisees. We’ve faced challenges and situations that most people never will, and that’s given us strength, determination, and the ability to make quick, rational decisions. Our years in the police also taught us the importance of building trust, which has been key in building strong relationships with our clients.
Being part of the GoCruise & Travel family has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a close-knit community, and we enjoy the freedom to run our business at our own pace. The opportunities to travel have been amazing, and the social side of the franchise is something we really value. Most importantly, it keeps our minds active as we move into semi-retirement.
Our advice to anyone leaving the forces or police and thinking about buying a franchise is simple: you only get out what you put in. Building a strong client base and providing excellent service is essential. Do your research, as we did, and speak to existing franchisees for advice. Above all, choose a franchise that offers the support you need to succeed.
