Entrepreneur nominated for Franchiser of Year

A true domestic goddess who swept away the competition has been named as a finalist in the British Franchiser of the Year awards.

Businesswomen Pam Bader, of Vicarage Road, Maidenhead, has gained recognition from the British Franchise Association (BFA) after succesfully franchising Molly Maid Ltd in the UK 22 years ago.

Pam's career began as a nursery nurse and boutique owner before she and her husband gambled on a franchise opportunity from Molly Maid to start up a small scale cleaning business in Farnham Road, Slough.
Fighting hard to carve a niche cleaning domestic homes the business has prospered under Pam's leadership and she is now UK chief executive.

From a minor operation in Slough, to 68 franchises across the UK, the company currently reels in an annual turnover of more than £12 million. 

"The awards from the British Franchise Association are very important to Molly Maid," said the entrepreneur who lives in Maidenhead.
"Years ago myself and my husband made the very frightening step of starting our own business and through franchising we have turned Molly Maid UK into a great success."

In 1995, Pam was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to training and also became the first woman to be elected chair of the British Franchise Association.

The awards at London's Sheraton Park Hotel will showcase Britain's best performing franchisers. Pam will attend the ceremony on May 22 with marketing and communications manager Kirsten Ware, and franchise development manager Andrew Parsons.
They hope to be named Express Newspapers brand builder of the year after gaining 7,000 new customers in 2007.