From the Desk of Paul Elvidge

Paul  has  extensive  experience  in  establishing  and  running SMEs  in  healthcare  and franchising.  He has  wide-ranging business, organisational and people skills.  He also has an MBA from Warwick Business School.

In 1991 he joined Chem-Dry, running the UK southern regional master franchise and worked up to the position of Managing Director.  During this time the company grew from  45  to  95  franchise  outlets  and  established  a  national  disaster  recovery  response service to insurance companies (t/o £25m).  He led personal and business development programs throughout the network, managed the business and technical services offered to franchisees and managed relationships with the US head office and sister companies.

In  1996  the  business  was  acquired  by  another  regional  company  as  part  of  a  UK consolidation.    Paul  took  the  opportunity  to  further  establish  the  franchise  in  France where  previous  efforts  had  failed.    He  moved  to  Paris  to  take  over  the  existing operation and within  one year had attracted French investment to the company.    He stayed for one year with the new owners to assist with its further establishment.

In  1998  Paul  invested  in  a  new  niche  healthcare  company  providing  care  for  high dependency clients setting up European Nursing Agency Ltd.  He led the company as Managing Director until 2004 then stepped down to remain as Chairman.  During this time  the  company  grew  to  160  full-time  employees  (t/o  £5m)  establishing  a  quality name  in  this  specialist  area.    Paul  managed  this  business  and  its  organisational development during this growth.  He focused  on the development and motivation of the people who were providing services for the company.

Paul enjoys working with and establishing new business ventures.  He has provided support as a mentor to several successful business start-ups, and as a Business Mentor with the Princes Trust he continues to mentor entrepreneurs.

Paul especially enjoys time with his wonderful family.  With his wife Jane and his 4 children he enjoys photography, skiing, climbing and hill walking and he has a Mountain Leader (MLC) qualification.    As a family they enjoy adventurous holidays. He enjoys an active involvement in his local community.  Paul serves as a local Magistrate.  From 2001 to 2007 he was a volunteer Bishop of a local church congregation and is now appointed to oversee several Bishops and their congregations.  He is Chair of the board of trustees for Home-Start St Albans, a local charity contracted by local authorities to provide support to young families.