Scaling up, Staying Grounded: 15 Years of Franchising at Right at Home
Published: 20/08/2026
An Incredible 15 Years Cultivating Exceptional Business Leaders
This year marks 15 years of franchising at Right at Home UK, and we are so proud to be able to celebrate the incredible achievements of our first two Franchise Owners, who remain in the network to this day.
Their longevity is a testament to their ongoing passion for helping others to live well at home and proof of Right at Home’s strong business model, commitment to quality and supportive culture.
One-Team Culture
In 2011 Tim Haigh and Andree Kerr took a brave step; joining a new franchise network that formed just one year earlier, promising a new approach to the delivery of in-home care and companionship.
The model, which came from America, had been adapted to the UK market after a pilot office was opened in Preston, Lancashire, and it was driven by a small support team that included Kate Dilworth --- who progressed from Franchise Recruitment Coordinator to her current role as Associate Director of Network Development --- and led by Right at Home UK's founder, Ken Deary.
“We did our training at a small B&B in Preston. It was the first training session National Office had done, and it was conducted on an overhead projector,” recalls Tim, Owner of Right at Home Sutton & Mid Surrey.
“I also have this abiding memory of Ken visiting my office and helping me to download Excel on my computer. He was so supportive and I could tell, even then, that he really wanted me to succeed,” he adds.
“My fondest memories of those early days are of the people I met. In the first year or two, the network grew to about 15 owners and while the resources we had were nothing to what we have now, there was a fantastic sense that we were all in it together.”
Reflecting on her first meeting with Ken and his team, Andree, who left her career in HR to open Right at Home Wimbledon, Putney & Kingston, says: “We seemed to share the same values in terms of providing the best quality care.
“I realised I could bring together my experience of managing people as an employer and my personal experience caring for my mum to build a successful franchise, supported by the Right at Home business model and its support team.”
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Franchising Pioneers
Over the years, Tim has purchased a second territory, extending his personalised care services from Sutton and Epsom to Esher and Dorking and rebranding as Right at Home Sutton & Mid Surrey.
This came after a period of significant growth for his business, with its annual turnover reaching over £1.5 million in 2024.
Right at Home Sutton & Mid Surrey has also been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission – a major career highlight for Tim.
“I remember our CQC inspector calling us on Christmas Eve to tell us the good news. I rang Ken straight away because even though we were 12 years in, I still wanted him to be the first to know,” Tim says. “He was just really proud of us.”
Another proud moment for Tim was witnessing the resilience of his team as they continued to care for their Clients throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I remember that first morning when everything shut down. Half my team were too afraid to come to work, but those who did all mucked in and we got through it. We never let a Client go without the care they needed,” he explains.
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Tim also praises the support of National Office during this period. “I have to say, the whole team was outstanding. They kept pushing to find new ways to support the network, and they really came through for us.”
Like Tim, Andree has built a superb business reputation in her Wimbledon, Putney and Kingston territory and is about to renew her franchise agreement for a second time. She explains that what has kept her in the business for so long is the sense of fulfilment it brings and the value of being part of a network that prioritises quality care and strong relationships.
“It’s a privilege to be able to care for our Clients and, in doing so, making small incremental differences to their lives each day,” she says.
“Equally, when you recruit the right people, offer them an exciting career pathway and make them feel valued, the thankyous you receive…the smiles on their faces…it’s truly rewarding. I have staff who have worked with me for 10 years!”
Growing Together Without Compromise
Fifteen years on from signing up Tim and Andree, and Right at Home UK’s National Office team has grown to around 35 staff, supporting 90 franchise territories with expert guidance on business growth, recruitment, marketing, finance and compliance.
But as the franchisor has scaled, Tim and Andree agree that it has stayed true to its core values and original business vision, which has always centred on genuine partnership and a long-held ambition to make a meaningful difference in local communities.
“National Office have faced some challenges - they've had staff come and go and reinvented certain departments - but they’ve never lost their vision to be the best homecare franchisor in the UK,” he explains.
“In the early days, Ken was very much leading from the front. He led council meetings for the owners, and we all pitched in, trying to figure out how we can improve things,” Tim adds.
“That sense of collaboration hasn't changed - it's all about maintaining really high standards. All of us were attuned to that from day one and still are.”
Andree agrees, adding: “We’re receive a lot of valuable help from National Office. This comes down to Ken’s vision for the future of Right at Home, and his commitment to employing a team who genuinely care about us franchisees and our business success.”
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Proud Chairman
To this day, founder and chairman Ken Deary maintains a hands-on role supporting and mentoring the network of Franchise Owners.
Looking back on 15 years of franchising, he feels proud of how Right at Home UK has maintained its supportive and caring culture.
“Everyone at Right at Home helps each other and has each other’s back. That’s always been key to our culture,” he says.
“My priority from the very beginning was to ensure our franchisees feel looked after, because only with the right support can they be the best at what they do.
“Over the years, this approach has cultivated in a close-knit community of like-minded franchise owners who are humble, driven, proud of their teams and committed to delivering outstanding care.”
Congratulating Tim and Andree on their remarkable milestones, Ken says: “From our first meeting in Preston, I knew their values and vision aligned with ours, which is why we chose them as the first franchisees to join the network.
“So, seeing them both go on to build dedicated teams, receive countless awards and make an extraordinary impact in their communities fills me with pride.”
He adds: “The best part of my job is being surrounded by so many genuine, kind and caring people who truly want to see each other do well, for the greater good of our sector.”
If you'd like to explore the Right at Home franchising opportunity, please reach out to our knowledgeable franchising team via the button below.
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