Martin’s Fast Food Escape
BEING made redundant has made a Fylde businessman even hungrier for success.
And financial help from a high street bank has seen Martin Gibson take a bite out of a global fast-food giant.
With a £44,000 enterprise finance guarantee loan from NatWest, Martin has been able to buy his own Subway franchise on Victoria Road West in Cleveleys.
Before being made redundant in November last year, Mr Gibson was a quality manager for Sappi Fine Paper in Blackburn. The South African-owned company closed its Lancashire operation last year with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
Mr Gibson said: “It is easy to become disillusioned when you are made redundant however I was determined not to let that happen.
“I looked at it as an opportunity to move on to the next stage of my career and took some time to evaluate what I wanted to do next.”
Acquiring a Subway franchise is an exciting prospect. The Subway sandwich empire was founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr Peter Buck in Connecticut in 1965. The chain has expanded rapidly and has more than 30,000 stores operating in 91 countries.
David Turnbull, relationship manager, business and commercial banking for NatWest, said: “Being made redundant can sometimes act as a catalyst as it pushes people into changes that they may not have previously made. “In Martin’s case it has had a positive effect and allowed him to launch his own business. We are very happy to back this venture and look forward to watching his progress.”
03/07/10 at 11:03 PM
Taking the step up to becoming self-employed, rather than looking for another job, is the way to go. Kudos to Martin Gibson for taking the plunge, and may his Subway franchise prove to be a great success and the beginning of many great things for him.