Andrew Mather, Apple Appointments, Exeter

My name is Andrew Mather, aged 38. I spent 15 years working in the catering industry, in all levels including contract catering, 4 star hotels and my last position as an Area Manager for a privately owned company who operated licensed houses.

I first met Richard some 20 years ago when we played golf at the same south Manchester course. We spoke only on a few occasions over those 15 years, until I approached him looking for some work as my last position had finished. Richard had by then established Cooke and Mellor as one of the leading recruitment specialists in Hotel and Catering. He secured me a position with my wife to look after a small inn in the Lake District. It was during this time that I started discussions about the options of working alongside Richard in recruitment. My wife had secured a position in the south west and I was keen to start my own business.

Having seen how successful Richard had become, and in listening to his straight business philosophy, I felt that given the right guidance from him, I could become successful. My initial research showed me that there was no agency based in the south west specialising in catering and I felt this was a gap to be exploited. As I felt that there were numerous potential pitfalls, I decided that I would start with the franchise package that Richard was offering.

From starting with no contacts, no clients and no staff, I worked at trying to build a name as being a reliable source for experienced catering personnel. At the end of year one, I made the princely sum of £8000. Despite this, I believed that I was just about to turn the corner. Over the next 4 years, my turnover has increased to something approaching £1,000,000 with a net profit in excess of £100,000. These are figures I only ever dreamed of earning in the past.

Richard has a policy within his business, which I followed. Others have tried and failed, mainly due to their decisions not to follow the Richard Mellor formula.

Tony Rishi & Pav Klair, Elite Recruitment, Nuneaton

"We bought our franchise in March 1999 both having very limited knowledge of recruitment and the industry. Without the training and full documentation received as part of the package, we can quite honestly say we would not be here today. In January 2001 we bought ourselves out of the franchise and today we currently have over 150 temporary staff out on various assignments within our 3 core divisions. We are now trading as Elite Recruitment Solutions Ltd and owe all our success to Richard Mellor and Co. for not only offering the franchise but for always being there especially in the early days when just a telephone conversation is enough to boost one's confidence and for always giving the same message which can be simply summed up as 'QUITTERS NEVER WIN, WINNERS NEVER QUIT".

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