With over 18 years of experience in the accountancy and finance sector, Kerensa Rose has chosen to cultivate a new career away from the corporate life to a world of grounds maintenance with her brother Courtney, to launch a new Countrywide Grounds Maintenance® franchise.

The duo, who are the first brother and sister franchise team in the Countrywide network, have taken over the reins of the Surrey franchise with an existing team of 21 groundsmen, eight branded Countrywide vans and a fleet of equipment. The business will continue to offer a range of services from grass cutting, shrubbery and gutter clearance to landscaping, line marking and winter gritting for businesses, schools, hospitals and facilities management companies.

Prior to the acquisition of their new business, Kerensa worked internationally driving financial operations in the technology, construction and manufacturing sectors. She brings with her a visionary and collaborative leadership style with strong and strategic experience in team building to achieve optimal performance. Courtney has a number of years’ experience in estate agency and has spent the past year and a half working for a neighbouring Countrywide franchise in Berkshire, gaining invaluable experience of both the industry and franchising.

Entrepreneurship is not a new concept for Kerensa and Courtney, who started a couple of businesses together in their native country, Zimbabwe. Following Courtney’s arrival in the UK, they began their search for a new business venture. They chose the franchising route and made an investment in a sector with a brand which was established, growing fast and recession proof – Countrywide fitted the bill, particularly as it was part of larger network of over 43 nationwide franchisees they could tap into for advice, guidance and support.

Kerensa Rose, Regional Manager of Countrywide Surrey, said: “Courtney and I are thrilled to be the new owners of Countrywide Surrey and we are very fortunate to have such a great team already in place to help with the day to day running of the business. I will be responsible for the strategic growth of the business, whilst my brother will take on more of an operational role and manage our customers and great team of groundsmen.

“Franchising offers many benefits from following a proven system and access to trusted people, but what ultimately drove us to Countrywide Surrey was the professionalism and reputation of the brand and finding a sector that would give us both a long-term future. We are really looking forward to getting stuck in and being a key player in Surrey, where we are committed to delivering a best in class customer service.”

James Kelly, Managing Director of Countrywide, added: “Demand for professional groundsmen has steadily been on the rise for the past few years with the commercial sector looking for an all-year round grounds maintenance service to deliver a high standard service that is second to none. We have seen an increasing number of franchise owners like Kerensa who are leaving professional careers to start their own new business in this booming sector. We are so pleased to welcome our first sister brother duo to the Countrywide network, and the combination of Kerensa’s financial and organisational skills coupled with Courtney’s knowledge of grounds maintenance and great customer service, looks set to make them a winning team!”

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