Fairer Franchise
@fairerfranchise.bsky.social
A campaign by former Vodafone franchisees Andrew Kerr, Rikki Lear and Donna Watton.
"Dreadful organisation. It can’t support its own staff who are trying to support customers. The idea of trying to do complicated things is laughable."
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 AM
"Dreadful organisation. It can’t support its own staff who are trying to support customers. The idea of trying to do complicated things is laughable."
Vodafone celebrates its employee benefits. But what about the franchisees who ran its high street stores?
Scroll through Vodafone’s careers pages or LinkedIn posts and you’ll see it all:
Scroll through Vodafone’s careers pages or LinkedIn posts and you’ll see it all:
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Vodafone celebrates its employee benefits. But what about the franchisees who ran its high street stores?
Scroll through Vodafone’s careers pages or LinkedIn posts and you’ll see it all:
Scroll through Vodafone’s careers pages or LinkedIn posts and you’ll see it all:
When your own CEO admits you have a ‘macho’ culture – as Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle admitted in 2024 – and employees describe an ‘old boys club’ - your company has a problem.
November 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
When your own CEO admits you have a ‘macho’ culture – as Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle admitted in 2024 – and employees describe an ‘old boys club’ - your company has a problem.
“Greater control, flexibility and freedom are at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit for women.”
This was the finding at the heart of the Small Business Britain 2024 report into Female Entrepreneurship.
This was the finding at the heart of the Small Business Britain 2024 report into Female Entrepreneurship.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“Greater control, flexibility and freedom are at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit for women.”
This was the finding at the heart of the Small Business Britain 2024 report into Female Entrepreneurship.
This was the finding at the heart of the Small Business Britain 2024 report into Female Entrepreneurship.
Vodafone’s results show strong commercial performance and a raised dividend. But behind the numbers lies a troubling gap in transparency.
Vodafone doesn’t mention our claim as a contingent liability or legal case in its results. In fact, it doesn’t mention franchising or franchisees at all.
Vodafone doesn’t mention our claim as a contingent liability or legal case in its results. In fact, it doesn’t mention franchising or franchisees at all.
November 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Vodafone’s results show strong commercial performance and a raised dividend. But behind the numbers lies a troubling gap in transparency.
Vodafone doesn’t mention our claim as a contingent liability or legal case in its results. In fact, it doesn’t mention franchising or franchisees at all.
Vodafone doesn’t mention our claim as a contingent liability or legal case in its results. In fact, it doesn’t mention franchising or franchisees at all.
Vodafone announced on Tuesday that it is raising its dividend for the first time in seven years.
That’s good news for shareholders — but it brings no comfort to us, the 62 former Vodafone franchisees who helped build its success on the high street.
That’s good news for shareholders — but it brings no comfort to us, the 62 former Vodafone franchisees who helped build its success on the high street.
November 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Vodafone announced on Tuesday that it is raising its dividend for the first time in seven years.
That’s good news for shareholders — but it brings no comfort to us, the 62 former Vodafone franchisees who helped build its success on the high street.
That’s good news for shareholders — but it brings no comfort to us, the 62 former Vodafone franchisees who helped build its success on the high street.
Vodafone results spark new demands for clarity over franchisee legal challenge – Yesterday's article from Proactive Investor highlighted how Vodafone has continued to leave our claim out of the Contingent Liabilities of its Financial Results.
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Vodafone results spark new demands for clarity over franchisee legal challenge – Yesterday's article from Proactive Investor highlighted how Vodafone has continued to leave our claim out of the Contingent Liabilities of its Financial Results.
“Today’s announcement by Vodafone of its H1 FY26 financial results should not distract from the serious behavioural and governance issues that we allege lie at the heart of the company – issues that demand full, independent investigation and accountability at the highest level.”
November 11, 2025 at 10:21 AM
“Today’s announcement by Vodafone of its H1 FY26 financial results should not distract from the serious behavioural and governance issues that we allege lie at the heart of the company – issues that demand full, independent investigation and accountability at the highest level.”
Five years.
Four investigations.
Countless unanswered questions.
Four investigations.
Countless unanswered questions.
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Five years.
Four investigations.
Countless unanswered questions.
Four investigations.
Countless unanswered questions.
The World Health Organization continues its global commitment to improving mental health through its Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, which calls on Member States to:
November 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The World Health Organization continues its global commitment to improving mental health through its Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, which calls on Member States to:
In a world where Vodafone’s leadership had asked us what we needed in our time of crisis, the answers would have been simple:
November 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
In a world where Vodafone’s leadership had asked us what we needed in our time of crisis, the answers would have been simple:
We want you to come forward Margherita, not stand back
When asked what advice she could give to a leader “embarking on change”, Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle said:
“Stand back and dispassionately look at what you’re managing from the outside”
When asked what advice she could give to a leader “embarking on change”, Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle said:
“Stand back and dispassionately look at what you’re managing from the outside”
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
We want you to come forward Margherita, not stand back
When asked what advice she could give to a leader “embarking on change”, Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle said:
“Stand back and dispassionately look at what you’re managing from the outside”
When asked what advice she could give to a leader “embarking on change”, Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle said:
“Stand back and dispassionately look at what you’re managing from the outside”
When asked how she thought about trust when building relationships, Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle answered:
“It’s all about transparency and honesty”
“It’s all about transparency and honesty”
November 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
When asked how she thought about trust when building relationships, Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle answered:
“It’s all about transparency and honesty”
“It’s all about transparency and honesty”
What began as a legal claim has become something much greater.
When 62 current and former franchisees brought a landmark legal action against Vodafone, it wasn’t just about contracts, commissions, or clauses – it was about accountability, fairness, and dignity.
When 62 current and former franchisees brought a landmark legal action against Vodafone, it wasn’t just about contracts, commissions, or clauses – it was about accountability, fairness, and dignity.
October 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
What began as a legal claim has become something much greater.
When 62 current and former franchisees brought a landmark legal action against Vodafone, it wasn’t just about contracts, commissions, or clauses – it was about accountability, fairness, and dignity.
When 62 current and former franchisees brought a landmark legal action against Vodafone, it wasn’t just about contracts, commissions, or clauses – it was about accountability, fairness, and dignity.
Just now in Westminster Hall, Luke Akehurst MP - the constituent MP for one of our claimants, Mick Wilson - raised the vital point about the crucial role of litigation funding in enabling access to justice for our group of 62 franchisees pursuing our claim against Vodafone.
October 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Just now in Westminster Hall, Luke Akehurst MP - the constituent MP for one of our claimants, Mick Wilson - raised the vital point about the crucial role of litigation funding in enabling access to justice for our group of 62 franchisees pursuing our claim against Vodafone.
Through the bravery of the 62 former Vodafone franchisees, we are turning years of pain and hardship into public awareness.
Because when leadership won’t listen, sometimes you are forced to make them hear you.
Because when leadership won’t listen, sometimes you are forced to make them hear you.
October 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Through the bravery of the 62 former Vodafone franchisees, we are turning years of pain and hardship into public awareness.
Because when leadership won’t listen, sometimes you are forced to make them hear you.
Because when leadership won’t listen, sometimes you are forced to make them hear you.
“The research literature has identified three factors that universally lead to stress: uncertainty, the lack of information, and the loss of control.”
- Dr Gabor Maté, physician and author of When the Body Says No
- Dr Gabor Maté, physician and author of When the Body Says No
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
“The research literature has identified three factors that universally lead to stress: uncertainty, the lack of information, and the loss of control.”
- Dr Gabor Maté, physician and author of When the Body Says No
- Dr Gabor Maté, physician and author of When the Body Says No
Five years ago, many Vodafone franchisees were struggling in silence.
The franchise model placed them under significant financial and personal pressure, leaving many feeling isolated and unsure where to turn.
Over time, that changed.
The franchise model placed them under significant financial and personal pressure, leaving many feeling isolated and unsure where to turn.
Over time, that changed.
October 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Five years ago, many Vodafone franchisees were struggling in silence.
The franchise model placed them under significant financial and personal pressure, leaving many feeling isolated and unsure where to turn.
Over time, that changed.
The franchise model placed them under significant financial and personal pressure, leaving many feeling isolated and unsure where to turn.
Over time, that changed.
The Samaritans continues its efforts to combat mental health crises in the workplace through its online learning tool “Wellbeing in the Workplace” which gives businesses the tools to:
October 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The Samaritans continues its efforts to combat mental health crises in the workplace through its online learning tool “Wellbeing in the Workplace” which gives businesses the tools to:
“I invested all my savings left to me by my late father and risked my family’s future. I was told Vodafone would support me all the way… but that all changed after only a few weeks.” – Scott Roberts
October 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
“I invested all my savings left to me by my late father and risked my family’s future. I was told Vodafone would support me all the way… but that all changed after only a few weeks.” – Scott Roberts
In partnership with leading retailers John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASOS, Co-op, Marks & Spencer and NEXT, Samaritans has developed the Wellbeing in Retail initiative which aims to help retail workers recognise emotional distress, support one another, and access help.
October 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
In partnership with leading retailers John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASOS, Co-op, Marks & Spencer and NEXT, Samaritans has developed the Wellbeing in Retail initiative which aims to help retail workers recognise emotional distress, support one another, and access help.
Franchises are driven by entrepreneurs - passionate people who take risks, invest their savings, create local jobs and bring national brands to local communities.
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Franchises are driven by entrepreneurs - passionate people who take risks, invest their savings, create local jobs and bring national brands to local communities.
In the wake of World Mental Health Day, Fairer Franchise want to talk about @mind.org.uk – one of the UK’s leading mental health charities and a voice for everyone whose wellbeing has been compromised by their workplace.
October 15, 2025 at 10:16 AM
In the wake of World Mental Health Day, Fairer Franchise want to talk about @mind.org.uk – one of the UK’s leading mental health charities and a voice for everyone whose wellbeing has been compromised by their workplace.
“A key lesson from the Post Office scandal is that we must not allow the sophisticated power of a corporate body… to persuade us to ignore the voices of less powerful individuals who speak out.”
— Sir John Hayes MP
— Sir John Hayes MP
October 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
“A key lesson from the Post Office scandal is that we must not allow the sophisticated power of a corporate body… to persuade us to ignore the voices of less powerful individuals who speak out.”
— Sir John Hayes MP
— Sir John Hayes MP
Today is World Mental Health Day, and as the franchisees currently involved in the landmark legal claim against Vodafone, we are taking this day to reflect on how workplaces, leadership, and systems can either protect or destroy people’s mental health and wellbeing.
October 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Today is World Mental Health Day, and as the franchisees currently involved in the landmark legal claim against Vodafone, we are taking this day to reflect on how workplaces, leadership, and systems can either protect or destroy people’s mental health and wellbeing.