Franchising's Fatal Flaw: A Family's Plea for Justice The recent settlement between Vodafone and its former franchisees has brought attention to a more tragic case – that of Adrian Howe, a 58 year old former Vodafone employee who took his own life in 2018 after being convinced his new franchising deal would prove financially ruinous.
Adrian's family is now pushing for "Adrian's law" to protect franchisees. His daughter, Kirsty Anne Holmes, points out that there is currently no protection for franchisees in the UK – and this needs to change.
Franchising agreements have become a ubiquitous business model, allowing companies like Vodafone to offer entrepreneurs the chance to run their own stores in exchange for a fee.