Somerset Social Group of Friends, West Country

Looking For Work? A New Career?

Run Your Own Social Group Business!

ENJOY A SUCCESSFUL CAREER ORGANISING SOCIAL EVENTS, DINING OUT, PARTIES, DINNER DANCES, QUIZZES, ENTERTAINMENT, THEMED EVENTS, TREASURE HUNTS, WALKS, AND A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES!

DO SOMETHING ENJOYABLE AND WORTHWHILE WITH YOUR LIFE!

TAKE ON A SOCIAL GROUP FRANCHISE!

The Social Group offers a ‘group of friends’ to be part of, where people can have company at the programme of organised social events, dining out, parties, activities, and holidays we put together. It offers people the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, have fun, and enjoy a great social life!

The Social Group is looking for committed individuals who will help bring our already successful brand to a wider population. Well established in South West England since 1997, we are now looking to expand to other regions of the UK. If you live in another part of the UK and are looking for work and a new career, this could be for you!

Very quickly, with our assistance and backing, you can get started and have your brand new business generating an income for you.

By taking on a Social Group franchise, you are purchasing our experience and expertise. We will show you how to do everything, help you avoid making costly mistakes, and we’ll make it all very easy and straightforward for you.

THE SOCIAL GROUP

The Social Group was founded in 1997 by Andrew B. Haglington B.A. (Hons). Parent company Social Group Enterprises Ltd. was registered in the UK in 2003. Directors are husband and wife team Andrew B. Haglington B.A. (Hons) and Catherine J. Haglington.

From the Social Group Head Office in Devon, The Social Group currently operates in five UK geographical areas - Cornwall, Devon South, Devon North, Somerset, and Bristol & Bath.

We believe the same format and our unique brand can be just as successful all over the country.

Every year we get enquiries from people all over the UK looking to make friends and enjoy a good social life, and all hoping to join a branch of The Social Group. Every year, we have to disappoint people and lose business, when they find out we have not yet set up in their area. So we know the customers are there and know people want the services you could soon be offering them.

All we need now is for you to come forward to run one of these other areas for us!

Yes! This time next month, you could be on your way to doing something very special with your life and be in charge of running London Social Group, or Birmingham Social Group, or Sheffield Social Group, or Manchester Social Group, or whichever Social Group it is for the area where you live.

SEEKING A NEW CAREER

Looking for work? Look no further! We are actively looking for people to help us expand our winning brand into other parts of the UK.

As a Social Group franchisee, you will run your own business under our guidance and supervision, in the same way we have already established, with our ongoing training, support, and assistance.

We will show you how to do everything and teach you all you need to know to be able to run a dynamic branch of The Social Group that will provide you with a successful business and income and at the same time help hundreds of people in your area to find friends and enjoy better lives.

An event organiser background is not necessary, nor is a large amount of capital - although you are asked to make a personal investment in the business, all we ask is a very modest and affordable sum of just Ł4000.

Becoming a Social Group franchisee is not a license to print money, but the rewards are undoubtedly there for the earning. For the right people, this could be a very good career - one that you will really enjoy!

Running your own Social Group is lots of fun, as well as being rewarding and worthwhile. You have the option of working from a local office or possibly of working from home (with no commuting), working your own hours, gaining greater independence, increasing your sense of self-worth, and achieving a better work-life balance for yourself, with much more control over your life and your time.

You’ll also get to meet lots of really great people and have lots of fun!

UK FRANCHISES
For your low cost investment we will help you set up a separate Social Group as your own franchise in another part of the UK!

Just Ł4,000 in total to get you started.

This includes the cost of providing a low cost dedicated telephone number for you, setting up your own Social Group web site for you, showing you how to make your new business viable and sustainable, and giving you lots of back-up and help, and the benefit of our many years of experience as market leaders in this field.

The Ł4,000 franchise fee includes the design, development and first year of hosting of your own state-of-the-art web site and dedicated email address, purchase and lease of a dedicated low cost 0845 telephone number, a detailed and informative Data CD, help with advertising and marketing, the Social Group brand name, the benefit of our many years of experience, lots of back-up with assistance in getting your business off the ground, and with full training provided and ongoing support.

To become a successful Social Group franchisee, you need to take on board everything we have learned since we first started The Social Group in 1997. That’s why we insist all franchisees learn the basics of how to run a successful Social Group when they first start. We’ll train you to do what works best, you’ll learn all our systems, and you will learn every role you will need.

At the outset, you will also need to pay an additional Ł500 training deposit, which is returnable once the training is completed and we are satisfied you have taken on board the basics of admin, accounts, taking payments, booking events, enquiries, newsletter magazines, event programmes, new member welcome packs, establishing credibility and trust, sales, marketing, development, hosting events, and all the rest.

In subsequent years, there will also be a small annual franchise fee to pay, which will also include the annual cost of hosting your web site on the internet.

Looking for a new career? Want to provide something useful for your community that above all else aims to promote having fun and enjoying a great social life? Fancy dining out with your own extended ‘group of friends’, organising parties, booking outdoor activities, and meeting lots of great people? This could be just what you have been looking for! It’s upbeat, it’s positive, it’s rewarding, and it does lots to help hundreds of people in your community! You’ll get a lot out of it and enjoy earning a good living while helping people!

If you would like to run London Social Group, Kent Social Group, Essex Social Group, Cardiff Social Group, Birmingham Social Group, Manchester Social Group, Sheffield Social Group, Newcastle Social Group, Glasgow Social Group, etc. we look forward to hearing from you soon!

WORLDWIDE FRANCHISES
Franchises territories in other countries outside the UK are also available. All enquiries welcome.

WHO CAN TAKE ON A SOCIAL GROUP FRANCHISE?
We are happy to franchise to individuals, or couples, or partners, or groups of friends, or business partners.

The Social Group franchise you take on for your area could be run by either one, two, three, or four people.

Your new Social Group franchise could be run by one person on their own, possibly with family or friends to help them in the early stages, then paid staff once you are up and running. Or your new Social Group franchise could be run by two people perhaps suiting a couple who would enjoy working together. Or your new Social Group franchise could be three or four people who are looking to set up in business together, each just needing to raise a small share of the franchise fee to get started, intending to work together as a team.

If there are two of you, obviously, you will only need Ł2,000 each to take on this franchise and get started.

If there are four of you, obviously, you will only need Ł1,000 each to take on this franchise and get started.

So this need not be expensive.

You will find Directors Andrew and Catherine at Social Group Head Office to be approachable and helpful. In return, we are looking for people who are prepared to listen to help and advice, and who are willing and able to learn all there is to learn, and who will be respectful, professional, and supportive.

A Social Group franchise would suit people with a smart presentable image and a modern outlook, who get on well with others. We are looking for people with high ethical standards, who will work hard to enhance the reputation of The Social Group, and who will not bring The Social Group’s good name into disrepute. We are looking for people who are prepared to put in the time and effort to really make their Social Group franchise work. You should have a good attitude, with an energetic and hands-on approach to any task that needs doing.

This is a people business. One of the most important qualities you need is the ability to connect with and get on with people. It should go without saying that it is important that people like you. If you are approachable, people will want to join in with the social functions and activities of your Social Group franchise.

Also of use would be having a creative flair, enthusiasm, imagination, and a sense of fun.

An important aspect of being a success in this job is that you will enjoy yourself in the company of others. You need to enjoy going out and hosting social events, dining out at restaurants, looking after parties, organising quiz evenings, chatting to people at bowling nights, making sure no-one is feeling left out, and so on.

You don’t need to be a computer expert. You don’t need to be able to build web sites. Detailed technical knowledge is not required. Your web site will be set up so it is easy for you to use and straightforward. It will be helpful to know how to use standard Microsoft Word documents on a computer, and be able to type and enter up details, and you will need to be able to send and answer emails, which is very straightforward.

You will produce a magazine / newsletter / events programme for your members. We will help you do this and make it easy for you. Fairly good standards of written English will obviously be useful. However, many of the pages of the magazine will be supplied already written for you, so this is much easier than it sounds. You’ll just copy a lot of our pages and others will simply involve you writing out and adding in the events you want to run in your area. Templates will be provided to enable you to easily produce a magazine / newsletter / events programme. Much of the written material, features, and articles can just be copied, edited, or adapted. You should find this all simple enough to do fairly easily.

Plus, we have many years of articles, features, jokes pages, puzzle pages, and photo pages which you can copy from us to use in your magazine. This will give a very good impression to your new members right from the start and means there will be less for you to do, as your magazine will already be part-done.

We will also show you how to do all the required admin and how to keep the account records, all of which is fairly straightforward with the easy to follow systems we have developed over the years.

Your own transport is required so that you can travel to events. Having a car is essential.

A digital camera is required in order to take photos of your events for your magazine and your web site. It is important to be able to record the events you run in order to promote your business.

A laminating machine will also be needed, in order to be able to make Social Group Photo ID Cards for your members. These are fairly inexpensive.

There is no specific age requirement. You might be in your 20’s or 30’s and looking to start up your own business. You might be in your 40’s or 50’s and looking for a career-change. You might be 60+ and looking for something fun to do in retirement. You might have taken redundancy from other employment and be looking for a more interesting business opportunity and career. You might be a parent looking for a way back into the workplace after bringing up your children. You might already work part time and be looking for a useful second income and a way to boost your own social life.

As a Social Group franchisee, you will become an entrepreneur with your own business to run.

Please remember - it’s not just party, party, party! (Honest!)

While this is all about providing good times for people and nice social occasions where people can make friends and enjoy themselves, and of course, this is going to be a lot of fun for you, at the same time you will be running a business with all that entails - including sales, marketing, accounts, and making a profit so that you can cover your operating costs and can pay yourself and your staff wages.

One of the major advantages we offer is for you to be able to get your Social Group franchise off the ground for very little additional expense.

You do not need a large amount of capital to invest. Much of what you need, many of you will already own. In addition to the above, all you will really need to get started is a spare room, a normal personal computer, a telephone, and an answer machine.

Of course, you can run your new Social Group franchise from a shop, office, or small business unit if you choose.

However, to keep down costs, office premises are not essential. You can easily operate this business from your home, if that suits you better. It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on renting or buying an office building.

With our support and assistance, we can get you up and running very quickly, and for relatively little expense.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL GROUP FRANCHISE?
The franchise is a license to operate a Social Group business in accordance with our advice and guidance, within the established operating parameters of Social Group Enterprises Ltd.

A franchise means that you own and run your own business, with your Social Group organised in exactly the same way as has been established with Devon Social Group, with the same rules, the same terms and conditions, the same sort of magazine, the same type of events, the same price structure, and so on.

In other words, you run the new Social Group as a copycat of the original.

You will be expected to make a commitment to run your Social Group franchise for at least 5 years.

Social Group Head Office will offer guidance on how every franchised Social Group should be run. All franchisees will have a voice and a good degree of creative freedom - but while this is your own business, it does have to be run in accordance with the same operating guidelines as has already been established.

It must be understood from the outset that you cannot turn this business into something different and you will need to acknowledge the role and authority of Social Group Head Office.

Franchising in the 21st century is commonplace and a good way to start up your own business, making use of the experience of a company that has run for many years.

McDonalds restaurants are a good example of a successful franchise operation. Worldwide, around 70% of McDonalds Restaurants are franchises, run by independent entrepreneurs.

In the same way, if you take on a McDonalds franchise, this has to be run as a standard McDonalds restaurant, and it cannot be turned into something different, offering different services.

ELEMENTS OF THE SOCIAL GROUP
The Social Group has brought ways of meeting people and having more to do into the 21st Century.

It provides a new and innovative way to make new friends and enjoy a great social life.

Organisers of all Social Groups arrange and offer their members...

(1) SOCIAL EVENTS
Social events include restaurant meals, parties, dinner dances, balls, themed evenings, fancy dress, quizzes, games, Secret Life, Quiz X, I Spy, treasure hunts, murder mystery, behind the scenes tours, singles speed dating, live entertainment, theatre, concerts, cinema, pub nights, bar crawls, and nightlife.

Help with the planning of events is included in the comprehensive training we offer you. Organisers of individual Social Group franchises can then decide what they take part in with their customers. You don’t have to go along to every last event if you don’t want to. Many events can run fine by themselves, without you having to be there. It generally works out that you can go out to as much or as little as you fancy. You should find you really enjoy yourself.

(2) SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Social activities include skittles, ten pin bowling, quasar, canoeing, archery, clay shooting, quad biking, go-karting, table tennis, horse riding, adventure caving, climbing, abseiling, skiing, paintball, surfing, gliding, flying lessons, coasteering, and a programme of walks.

Organisers of individual Social Group franchises don’t have to do any of these activities yourself unless you want to. You just arrange them with professional activity centres, make the bookings, and ensure your customers are happy and enjoy themselves.

(3) HOLIDAYS
Organisers of individual Social Group franchises do not have to get involved in organising holidays or anything with overnight accommodation. This makes things much simpler for you.

All holidays are arranged centrally for members in all areas by Social Group Enterprises Ltd. We will arrange the holidays for your Social Group area and supply you with all the printed details for your magazine, and your web site will have a link into the main Social Group holidays web site, which will make your franchise look good right from the start, even before you have run anything yourselves.

This means that organisers of Social Group franchises can offer their members a range of enjoyable holidays without having to become experts on complicated travel industry regulations and without having to invest a lot of money in the required legalities and bonding.

You do not need to take part in everything yourself. You will make sensible judgements on which events you need to be at and you will be able to work everything around your own life.

Exactly what events you choose to run, in keeping with the general guidelines, will be very much up to you.

It will certainly help if you like food and drink, as that does tend to be a big part of the job. Especially in the winter months when bad weather can limit what can be organised, there can be a lot of dining out at restaurants.

Also, you do need to be prepared to get up and have a dance at parties and be seen to be a good sport and join in where you are able.

THE LEARNING CURVE - TRAINING & SUPPORT
You don’t need any particular experience to run a Social Group franchise, as you have our many years of experience to rely on and help you.

Obviously if you have people skills and a good standard of written English, plus computer skills, sales experience, marketing knowledge, and a good outlook on life, all of this will stand you in good stead - but most of what you need can be passed on to you during training.

Don’t worry - much of it is common sense and none of it is that hard.

It’s just that we have tried running The Social Group in many different ways and we know what works, what you need to do to be a success, how to be compliant with government regulations, and all sorts of things you will not have thought of, but which have proved important over the years.

So the idea is for us to teach you what we know and mentor you, offering ongoing support and assistance when needed in the years ahead.

To begin with, you will make the time to learn how to put the events programme together and how to run the business successfully. You will be shown how to put together the events pages of an issue of Social Group Magazine - standard pages for the magazine will be written, designed, and supplied for you by ourselves, and you can edit, adapt and include these as you wish. You will be taught how to plan out your own programme of social events, find suitable venues, make the arrangements with managers, and set up booking contracts. You will be made aware of ways of finding suitable entertainment where needed.

You will be advised on initial marketing strategies. You will be advised how to market your new branch of The Social Group to maximum effect for the minimum cost. We will offer you lots of assistance in order to help you avoid problems, get your new business off the ground, and be a success as soon as possible.

You will be trained to host events, look after people, make people welcome, and give the right impression, while at the same time making things manageable for you, so that you don’t have too much work to be able to cope with at one time.

You will be instructed how to speak to enquiries and how to offer a professional service. You will be helped to understand the necessity and reasoning behind all of the membership terms and conditions. You will be made aware of how not to fall foul of a variety of complicated government guidelines and trading laws. You will be shown how to register new members, keep members details, sort out the day-to-day admin, set up business bank accounts, deal with customers money, claim expenses, keep booking records, be able to use the custom-made stationery, keep the accounts, and run the Social Group properly and successfully, all in an easy to understand and straightforward way.

We will work with you to design and publish your own issues of Social Group Magazine. We offer lots of help with this. We will help you put together the majority of your first edition for you in order to help you get the new business underway and off to a good start. For future issues, most of the cover, standard pages and features can be supplied, making things much simpler for you. All you will need to do is type out your events pages for things happening in your area, using our templates, plus the odd page of text - yes, you can write about anything that interests you - after all, with out help and input, you will be the editor of your very own magazine!

BUYING OUR EXPERTISE
One of the most important aspects of purchasing a franchise is our enormous expertise, proven working practices, and many years of experience, as market leaders in this field. We make no claim to be perfect, but The Social Group is as it is now after many years of trial and error, in making mistakes and finding solutions. So there is a great deal of experience and knowledge we can pass onto you.

Much of the magazine you produce can simply be copied from what we will supply you with. This will make it very easy for you. The web sites we have devised will also make it very easy for you to use them. While the holidays offered to your members will enhance and compliment your business franchise and make you more successful, without any extra work for you.

Everyone should be aware that the events programme offered to members also has to be manageable for organisers - as much as you want to do the best you can for everyone, organisers cannot work every single day and be at everyone’s beck and call 24 hours. We will show you how to manage things to make this possible, in a way that works best for your customers and for you. You need to enjoy what you offer and it has to be fun for you, or this isn’t going to be a success. We can show you how to make a successful business out of this without you having to work all hours. We can make it easy and straightforward for you.

ENJOY YOUR WORK
Owning a Social Group franchise business gives you a rewarding lifestyle, in which you can keep your own hours and make a success out of your own personality. Anyone who is positive, outgoing, upbeat, creative, sociable and fun is going to love doing this job.

Enthusiasm, determination and perseverance will soon see your own Social Group blossom and take on a life of it’s own! Anyone who puts some effort into this is going to get a lot out of it!

You will be at the centre of the ‘group of friends’ you attract to your branch of The Social Group, so you are going to have lots of good times while doing your job and a lot of satisfaction in being able to help people have fun.

Once you are established and have all aspects of your Social Group running properly and to the required standards, you will find you have some freedom to bring in your own ideas. In fact, we will welcome regular feedback and suggestions from you, and the whole idea is to work together as part of a dedicated team, so that we give all our customers the very best social life we can put together for everyone.

So pack in the mundane 9 to 5 job that is driving you crazy and try something different - and a lot more fun!

HERE’S WHAT TO DO NEXT...
The first step in purchasing a Social Group franchise is making contact with Social Group Head Office.

Send your CV with a letter saying which area you would like to operate.

Next we will look at your application and assess if you have the right potential. Assuming you meet our selection criteria, we will arrange to meet with you and following this, if both parties still wish to proceed, you will sign the franchise contract, pay the Ł4,000 franchise fee, and pay the Ł500 training deposit.

We will get the training underway as soon as is mutually convenient. The training period will depend on the individual. If you grasp things quickly, this will obviously not take so long.

You will also have the option of accepting an invitation to Devon to attend sample events run for members of Devon Social Group and hosted by founder Andrew Haglington and his wife Catherine.

Once we are satisfied that you are capable of starting up and operating a Social Group franchise, you will be refunded your training deposit and given the green light to begin. If you make yourself immediately available, you could get started within as little as just a few weeks of you first making contact.

We look forward to hearing from you.

For further information, please contact Social Group Enterprises Ltd. :

POSTAL ADDRESS :
Franchises
Social Group Head Office,
"Revelstone",
Mary Tavy,
Dartmoor,
Devon
PL19 9PF

EMAIL : franchises@devonsocialgroup.com

UK TELEPHONE :

08456 121 770 (charged at low cost local rates from all parts of the UK)

Open 7 days, 12noon - 7pm

TELEPHONE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE UK :
International Dialling Code +1822 810120

THE SOCIAL GROUP

BRISTOL & BATH SOCIAL GROUP www.bristolsocialgroup.com
SOMERSET SOCIAL GROUP www.somersetsocialgroup.com
DEVON SOCIAL GROUP www.devonsocialgroup.com
CORNWALL SOCIAL GROUP www.cornwallsocialgroup.com
HOLIDAYS www.socialgroupholidays.com