Roy van Vessem, manager of the Lakeland Verandahs franchise for North Scotland, is well accustomed to running his own business, which is standing him in really good stead with his current venture.

At the age of just 21, whilst he was still studying to become an entrepreneur, he was offered the chance to take over a small family business from his uncle, selling standard sized awnings and blinds.

In the 18 years that followed, he built the business up, adding lots of complementary products to the range, like garden rooms and PVC decking, which then allowed him to buy a brand-new showroom with lots of storage space.

He sold the business in 2015 to move to Scotland with his two children, where he managed an estate until 2020, which is when he went in search of a new challenge.

He found it when the opportunity to acquire the Lakeland franchise for North Scotland came along, and he very much liked what he heard when a meeting was set up to fully discuss the proposition:

“The Lakeland Verandahs team consists of a bunch of very nice and knowledgeable people with whom I had an instant click.

“The business is extremely professional and they think of everything. And quality is the most important factor of all. Not just the quality of the products but also, maybe even more importantly, the quality of the whole customer experience when they buy a Lakeland product.

“This was exactly what I was looking for and why I agreed to join the Network. It is what I am now offering to my clients in the Highlands.

Householders in the Highlands can expect a friendly service that delivers high-quality products for very reasonable prices, with finance options available, when they appoint Roy’s North Scotland Lakeland Franchise.

His biggest passion is making sure his clients get exactly what they expect and pay for, and he believes this will help the brand grow rapidly both in Scotland, and further afield.

“I'm very confident that within one or two years, people all over the UK will be aware of the Lakeland brand and be contracting our company for their maintenance-free, eco-friendly decking, balustrades and fences.”

It doesn’t matter if you have a background in business ownership or not, you can still join the Lakeland Verandahs Franchise Network. For more information, download a copy of Lakeland’s prospectus.