Mrs Mary Corbett – Head of Business, Economics & Psychology

A Level Business students were recently hosted by Metro Rod and Metro Plumb Manchester at its Support Centre for an afternoon insight event focused on how a national franchised service business operates, grows, and maintains consistency at scale.

The session gave students direct access to Metro Rod and Metro Plumb’s leadership team, including Steve Chambers, Managing Director; David Corbett, Head of SHEQ & Operations; Tracey Cockerton, Head of Franchise Sales and Development; and franchisee and owner of Metro Rod North Midlands, Nick Coope. The team were delighted to provide a practical overview of the drainage, plumbing and franchising landscape alongside open discussions on commercial strategy, operations and future industry trends.

Understanding How a Franchise Network Operates at Scale

A key focus of the afternoon was how Metro Rod has benefited from operating within a franchise model as part of Franchise Brands plc. The Metro Rod and Plumb Team explained how franchising enables local businesses to operate independently while benefiting from national branding, shared systems and centralised support, creating a balance between entrepreneurial ownership and consistency of service. Students explored how standards are maintained across the network, from service delivery to customer experience to branding and compliance. The discussion highlighted the role of structured processes, performance monitoring and ongoing support in ensuring customers receive the same level of service, regardless of location.

Service Quality, Performance and Operational Resilience

Conversations also covered how Metro Rod prioritised quality while delivering services at pace, including how delays are minimised through scheduling, technology and national coordination. Students were keen to understand whether output or service quality takes precedence, with leaders emphasising that long-term success depends on consistently high standards rather than volume alone. The students showed strong interest in how the business plans for unexpected challenges including events such as COVID-19, and how national infrastructure, data and forecasting help the network remain resilient while supporting franchisees through periods of uncertainty.

Franchise Success, Support and Career Pathways

The discussion focused on the drivers of franchisee success, outlining the qualities required to join the network, the structured onboarding process, and the support framework delivered by the Support Centre. Conversations also covered franchise investment, typical timescales for growth, performance measurement and how franchisees are supported to scale sustainably over their first few years.

The session highlighted the breadth of career opportunities available with the business, extending beyond technical roles to include leadership, operations, health & safety, support functions and strategic roles, helping students gain a broader view of how national service businesses operate and create long-term value.

Commenting on the visit, Steve Chambers, Managing Director at Metro Rod & Metro Plumb, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome pupils from St Bede’s College to our Support Centre and share an insight into how a national service business operates behind the scenes. The quality of questions showed a real interest in business strategy, growth and service quality, and it’s important we help young people understand the breadth of opportunities available within our industry.” Metro Rod & Metro Plumb would like to thank St Bede’s College, Manchester for visiting and contributing to a highly engaging and insightful afternoon.