Business coaching franchise wins big at national awards night
Business coaching firm ActionCOACH is celebrating after two of their coaches won at the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchise Awards. Hosted to celebrate the best of the best within the franchising industry, James Burke and Kevin Riley are the recipients of an award each: Next Generation Franchisee of the Year and 2020 UK Community Hero respectively.
The ceremony was held on 30th November to recognise the outstanding talent in franchise brands across the UK. ActionCOACH work with thousands of business owners to help them grow their business, boost profits and energise teams. With the pandemic placing unprecedented strain on all sectors, their business coaches sprung into action to provide a solution. But it wasn’t just James’ determination that stood out to the judges, it was his personal story which inspired them to crown him as the best franchisee in Britain, in their under 35 Next Generation category.
“I started my career as a boxer, but it was cut short after being diagnosed with brittle bone disease. This brought on a severe case of depression, causing me to be excluded from school and becoming homeless. I had hit rock bottom but, after a few years, I was determined to make a comeback.
“When I was 23, I ensured I was healthy, both physically and mentally, and started looking at how I could get myself back in the game. I got a job as an estate agent and quickly progressed to branch manager, before being appointed a regional director of Yopa. But that wasn’t enough, and I was inspired by Simon Sinek, famous author and motivational speaker, to strive for something bigger.”
That’s when James created his personal mission to make a difference to a million people by 2030. He knew this wasn’t going to be possible in the property world but launching ActionCOACH Manchester in July 2018 gave him the platform to make his dream a reality. He’s on target to have impacted 60,000 people by the end of 2020 - with plans to go even bigger in the next five years.
“I’ll be approaching a multi-million-pound business within that timeframe, focusing on getting into arenas and helping tens of thousands of people in the future - this is just the beginning.”
Kevin has also created his own mission to create 150 millionaires within 15 years across Warwickshire. Just like every other Action Coach in the UK, Kevin’s services were needed more than ever before as the pandemic hit. Since March, Kevin and his team have gifted 180-plus coaching sessions to Warwickshire businesses.
The ‘Community Hero’ category recognised the individual who demonstrated the most determination and passion over the year. Although this award recognises his hard work, he understands it isn’t over just yet.
“We’ve all been through a lot this year and there’s still a long way to go. However, receiving this award is a great way to remember how far we have actually come and what’s been achieved. I’m extremely proud to win this award and it will be taking pride of place once we get back into the office.”
James and Kevin are just two of more than 200 Action Coaches in the UK who continue to offer a lifeline to local business communities. This year, a UK survey of over 800 clients revealed 97% of them agreed ActionCOACH makes a positive difference to their lives, and a staggering 97% would recommend ActionCOACH to a friend or business associate.
For more information on this award-winning business coaching firm, visit actioncoach.co.uk
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Editor’s notes:
For more information, or to speak with James or Kevin directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: James Burke and Kevin Riley.