Redundancy is a strange thing, and for many people it becomes the trigger for a career change they’d quietly been putting off. One day you’re in the routine; the next you’re staring at a payout and a question you maybe haven’t asked yourself in twenty years — what do I actually want to do now? For a growing number of people, the answer has nothing to do with another desk.
“I’d had enough of office life”
We hear it constantly. One of our franchisees put it perfectly: after being made redundant twice from jobs in the city, he’d had enough. He now mows lawns and cuts hedges and wouldn’t go back. He’s not unusual. A lot of the people who join Ed’s are ex-corporate — people who spent years in roles that paid well but left them commuting in the dark, sitting in meetings about meetings, and wondering if this was it.
Why gardening, of all things?
It’s a fair question if you’ve never done it professionally. Here’s the appeal, in plain terms:
You’re outside, and you’re moving
After years under strip lighting, being out in the fresh air doing physical, visible work is a tonic. You finish a job and you can see what you’ve done. That sounds small. It isn’t.
The work is genuinely there
There’s more demand than we can supply. People want their gardens looked after and there aren’t enough reliable gardeners to go round. You’re not inventing a market — you’re stepping into one that already exists in your local area.
You’re in control
No more being at the mercy of a restructure decided three floors up. You decide when you work, how much you work, and how big you grow. After redundancy, that sense of control is often the thing people want most.
“But I don’t know anything about running a business”
Most people who come to us don’t, and that’s rather the point of a franchise. You’re not starting from a blank page. You get a model that’s been proven since 2003, full training, the tools to handle your admin and accounting, and ongoing support. You bring the willingness to graft and deal with customers well; we provide the framework so you’re not learning every lesson the hard and expensive way.
We’ve written a more detailed answer to whether a gardening franchise is worth it if you want the honest answers.
Using a redundancy payout wisely
A redundancy settlement is a rare thing — a lump sum and a moment to change direction. Plenty of people let it trickle away while they “work out what’s next”. Investing part of it in a business you’ll own outright, in an industry with steady demand, is one of the more sensible things you can do with it. We’ll be honest with you about the costs involved, so you can make the decision with your eyes open.
Where to start your career change after redundancy
You don’t have to decide anything today. The sensible first step is simply to get the facts. Our guide to what you can earn from a gardening franchise gives you realistic figures, including costs.
Download our prospectus or get in touch — no obligation, straight answers.
Thinking about running your own gardening business?
Find out what it takes to become an Ed’s franchisee.