Meet our Franchisees - James Birch, Director of Silverstone Cars on Demand
Name: James Birch
Job Title: Director
Branch location; Silverstone Circuit, Northants
Can you tell us a bit about the area/region you cover and what towns and cities fall into this region?
Cars on Demand Midlands covers The West Midlands, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, parts of Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk & Suffolk.
Main cities include Birmingham, Warwick, Coventry, Oxford, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford, Cambridge, Luton, Bedford, Peterborough, Norwich and Ipswich.
How many years’ experience do you have working in the leasing industry?
5 years
How long have you been a Cars on Demand franchisee?
5 years
What did you do prior to becoming a Cars on Demand franchisee?
I spent 17 years running a retail and distribution business in the Motorsport Equipment industry before investing in Cars on Demand.
What inspired you to work within the leasing industry?
When I was introduced to the franchise opportunity with Cars on Demand, I could quickly see the growth potential for short term leasing across many sectors and markets. Also, due to the flexibility with our product offers, it is fairly recession proof, which is very important in these uncertain times!
What type of vehicle is most popular in your area and why do you think this is the case?
Premium hatchbacks, saloons and 4x4s such as VW Golf, Audi A4 and Volvo XC60 are the most popular. This is because over 60% of the customers we supply to are businesses who require quality brands and models for their staff.
What’s your proudest career and personal achievement to date?
Proudest career achievement is becoming Managing Director and 50% shareholder of a leading motorsport equipment retailer by the age of 25 and building sales from £500k to over £5m in 5 years.
Personal achievement has to be my kids – both are great characters and make me laugh!
What was your first car?
Mini Moke at the age of 14 – great car for ripping up the garden!
First road car at 17 was a Peugeot 205 1.6 GTI
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
My son takes up most of my spare time and he plays U11 county cricket and rugby. In summer, I enjoy playing golf and tennis and we are currently renovating our 350-year-old farmhouse, when time allows of course!
Tell us what short term leasing means to you in no more than 10 words:
Flexible, cost effective and hassle-free motoring.
Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise us!
Nothing that I could tell you about!
