Luke Kay: From Graduate Scheme to Business Ownership

Trusting his instincts and choosing a different path

Luke Kay was a high-performing graduate with a promising corporate career ahead of him. Working for Carillion, he was among the top 10% of his graduate scheme cohort and had the potential to earn more than £100,000 over the following decade.

Yet, despite his success, Luke began to question whether the corporate world was the right fit for him. Having witnessed the pressures faced by employees in large organisations, he wanted to build something of his own — a business that would give him greater independence, flexibility and the opportunity to help others succeed.

His research into business ownership led him to two options: buying an existing business or investing in a franchise. Having always aspired to buy, grow and sell businesses, Luke recognised that franchising could provide the systems, training and support he needed to develop his entrepreneurial skills.

When he discovered the ActionCOACH UK business coaching franchise, he knew he had found an opportunity that aligned with his ambitions.

Finding the right franchise opportunity

With experience in project management, business development and implementing systems to support growth, Luke was keen to put his skills to work in a new environment.

ActionCOACH UK appealed to him because it offered the opportunity to own his own business, receive coaching and help business owners across a wide range of industries achieve sustainable growth.

After an initial conversation with the recruitment team, Luke attended a Discovery Day in January 2016, where he met Ian Christelow, co-founder of ActionCOACH UK.

The experience confirmed his decision. Luke carried out his due diligence, speaking with existing franchise partners to understand their experiences and the support available to help him succeed.

He was particularly encouraged by the openness of the franchise network and the opportunities to learn from coaches at different stages of their business journeys.

With the support of ActionCOACH UK, Luke developed his business plan, secured funding and took the leap from corporate employment into business ownership.

Building a successful business with the right support

Luke launched his ActionCOACH UK business in June 2016, following intensive franchise training and preparation.

From the outset, he benefited from ongoing coaching and practical support. His dedicated coach, Paula Wingate, called him every evening during his first month in business, helping him navigate the early challenges of launching his franchise. He also received regular guidance from an experienced master coach as he worked towards his client income targets.

Luke began generating clients through networking, social media and strategic partnerships. He also secured opportunities to speak at business growth seminars organised by major banks, including NatWest, HSBC and Barclays.

As his client base grew, Luke worked with business owners across a variety of sectors, helping them address common challenges such as setting clear goals, measuring performance, building effective teams and developing structured sales and marketing strategies.

He expanded his offering to include both one-to-one and group coaching. His GrowthCLUB grew from just five business owners to 24, while he also established ActionCLUB groups in Liverpool and Chester.

For Luke, the combination of a proven business model, practical training and continued support from ActionCOACH UK was instrumental in helping him turn his ambition into a growing business.

Achieving financial success and greater freedom

The results came quickly. Within just two months of launching, Luke was earning more than he had on his graduate scheme.

By 2017, he was generating £10,000 per month in client income. Within his first 12 months, he achieved his target of £55,000 in profit — matching the earnings he believed he could have reached in the first year of his corporate career after the graduate scheme.

His success extended beyond his own business. One of his clients, a carpet retailer, increased turnover from £1.1 million to £2.9 million, opened a fifth store and created 15 additional jobs after working with Luke for 12 months. The business also went on to win two retail sector awards.

These achievements reinforced Luke’s belief in the value of business coaching and the positive impact it can have on business owners, their teams and their wider communities.

Creating a business that works around his life

For Luke, success was never just about financial results. His corporate role had demanded long hours and frequent travel, leaving little time for his personal life and interests.

Owning an ActionCOACH UK franchise gave him greater control over his schedule and the way he ran his business. He was able to return to playing golf, make time for the gym and organise his working weeks around coaching, marketing and business development.

The flexibility of business ownership allowed him to pursue his professional ambitions without sacrificing the lifestyle he wanted.

Thinking bigger: turning ambition into reality

Luke's long-term ambition had always been to buy, grow and sell businesses. Through ActionCOACH UK, he was able to begin pursuing that goal much earlier than he had anticipated.

He took part in development opportunities designed to help successful coaches scale their businesses, including Leverage Day and the Firm Builder's Group. These initiatives gave him access to experienced business leaders, additional strategic guidance and the knowledge needed to explore building a larger coaching firm.

He also expanded his entrepreneurial interests by purchasing a Luv4 Marketing franchise, building on his understanding of social media and business growth.

Luke's journey demonstrates how the right franchise opportunity can provide a platform not only for building a successful business, but also for developing the skills, confidence and ambition to pursue further opportunities.

Luke's advice to aspiring franchise owners

Having experienced the benefits of the ActionCOACH UK franchise first-hand, Luke encourages aspiring business owners to make full use of the systems and support available to them.

His advice is simple: follow the system, trust the process, take advantage of the training and support, and never be afraid to ask questions.

With the right commitment and willingness to learn, Luke believes franchise owners can draw on the collective experience of a global network while building a business that reflects their own ambitions.

Luke's story is a powerful example of what can happen when entrepreneurial ambition meets the right support. By choosing ActionCOACH UK, he moved beyond a successful corporate career to build a profitable business, help other businesses grow and take meaningful steps towards his long-term vision of business ownership.