Sara Holmes Runs Aspray Sunderland

With over 20 years’ experience under her belt delivering successful housing and regeneration schemes in the public and private sector, Sara Holmes had a track record of hitting targets, fuelling business growth and enhancing the profitability of businesses before she took up the franchise opportunity with Aspray and became a loss assessor. 

So how has her impressive CV helped her fledgling franchise business and who is the person behind Aspray Sunderland?  We made it our mission to find out!

Sara, please tell us a little bit about Aspray Sunderland.  When did you start your franchise business?

I set up the company on April the 20^th 2018, but I didn’t start trading until after my training finished on the 22^nd June.  The first day on which I sat at my desk and logged on to my CRM system was June the 28^th and my very first Aspray appointment was on the Friday of that week.

What was it about the Aspray opportunity that attracted you?

I felt that the role of loss assessor would suit me, as I could utilise many of the skills that I had mastered during 20 years of working in the housing sector, and in land buying and business development.  The time was also right for me to explore the opportunity. 

Your CV suggests that you have a huge amount of experience in project management.  Is that a fair assessment?

Absolutely.  I’ve provided strategic direction for many projects, which I have grown and monitored, adapting them where necessary. I am also used to co-ordinating and leading teams. The scope of my work has focused heavily on customer service delivery and has entailed overseeing the work of various sub-contractors. I’ve been a project director, a head of business development and a development director during my career.

Why do you think these qualities and skills, coupled with your personality, will be useful in your Aspray franchise business?

The Aspray business model relies on the correct application and delivery of several diverse operations.  Each element needs to be done correctly, in order to deliver the successful outcomes for the business.  My ability to plan, organise, negotiate, lead and manage teams of people, whilst also being abreast of various situations, suit the role well and dovetail with my credibility as an individual.

What has been the biggest challenge, work-related or personal, that you’ve faced in your career to date?

A total change in career.  I have followed the same career path for 20 years, moving up from assistant level to a role as a director.  However, I became disillusioned working in a PLC and could not see myself staying long-term in the next logical position on my career ladder, which would have been as MD.  I took a break from my career to review my future options and to reassess my priorities and decided that what I actually wanted was much better life balance and not another promotion.  That is why I decided to take up the Aspray franchise opportunity, to fit my work around the rest of my life. 

How have you found the first few weeks in your business?

During the first few weeks, I was up and down, wondering if I had made the right decision.  I clunked my way through my first pitch and felt a bit awkward about everything, but then everything suddenly clicked into place. People seemed to start to understand what a loss assessor does and started to ask me questions, enquiring how they could help me.  My confidence returned and I haven’t looked back.

How has it felt to be helping other people through their property insurance claim and what can be a distressing situation?

I started to handle my first claim in week 3.  It feels great to call the claimant and just give them an update on progress, hearing them say, each time I talk to them, “I’m so pleased that you are doing this.  I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Has anything particularly interesting happened so far?

I won the 60-second pitch trophy in week three of attending my networking BNI group. This is awarded to the member who gives the most inspiring presentation. Mine was a case study of how I have helped a contractor progress his insurance claim.  I started to assist him after his insurer had talked him out of making a claim against his policy, even though it was his entitlement, under the terms of his policy, to claim.

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