Since establishing the franchise in 2012, Clear Brew have welcomed over 50 franchisees to the team.

We have recently caught up with Mark, who established Clear Brew Northamptonshire in 2018 and later went on to operate the Peterborough region. Here he discusses the path that led him to Clear Brew, shares his thoughts on life as franchisee, and expresses his goals moving forward with the business.

What did you do previously, before becoming a business owner with Clear Brew Ltd? 

I have always worked in IT, starting as a Mainframe Operator. Over the years I have worked in all areas of IT before spending 20 years doing IT Contracts and Procurement. Since 2014 I ran my own company providing contract services to the likes of The Wellcome Trust and ARM.

What made you consider investing in a franchise with Clear Brew? 

Changes to the contracting marketplace and being over 50, I decided to look at options. I saw Clear Brew on a franchise site and decided to investigate further. It looked like a no-brainer, why wouldn’t pubs want to save money and beer?

What has been your best business achievement in the past year?

In June 2022 I also purchased the Peterborough franchise. Business has increased dramatically since then and I now employ four part time technicians.

What do you like about the Clear Brew business model, has it lived up to your expectations? 

At first, I found it challenging to get in front of the decision makers to discuss beer line cleaning. Since lockdown, I have found that pubs seem even more open to our model and how we can save them time and money, while at the very least maintaining beer quality.

What difference are you making to businesses that you service in your local community?

Our customers see Clear Brew as an extension to their team. They tell us they no longer have to worry about the line cleaning, beer quality has increased, and they are saving money at the same time.

Please tell me about the support you have within the Clear Brew franchise network.

When I first started, I knew someone was always at the end of the phone to provide support and assurance when things didn’t go as expected. Even now the advice given by the franchise network is still there and as valuable as ever.

What have you learned most about in the past 12 months?

Change is good. With the current high turnover of pubs, there is opportunity to meet new and interesting people to discuss their beer line cleaning. Also, patience with employees and working with them to ensure they have the work/ life balance they need for their circumstances.

What business goals do you want to achieve in the next 12 months?

I set a goal of increasing our number of customers to 100 by the end of 2024 and to diversify our offering to promote our partner services such as Proton chemical sales, Lindr dispense systems and Cocktail Supreme.

What are your interests/hobbies? 

When I am not helping the family with whatever events they are involved in, I am a member of our village charity organisation the Geddington Volunteer Fire Brigade that help residents in the parish and run The Squirt on boxing day. I am also a Parish, Town and Unitary Councillor in North Northamptonshire that between four councils, takes up a lot of my time in the evenings. When not doing that, I play in paintball tournaments with a team called Fat Freddy’s Cat, playing in the European Classic Paintball League.

How has having a franchise with Clear Brew helped you with your work/life balance? 

Having the Clear Brew franchise enables me to run a business, to be a Councillor and spend time with the family.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE UK’S LEADING INDEPENDENT BEER LINE CLEANING FRANCHISE?

If you want to be your own boss and are looking for a great job opportunity that doesn’t require previous knowledge or experience, then contact Clear Brew today! We are growing rapidly and looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic people who are good communicators, and have a desire to succeed. By choosing Clear Brew, you will become your own boss, running a highly successful franchise within your own protected territory. You will also get a comprehensive training package, full equipment pack and full ongoing support.