Kitchen Makeovers – No Previous Experience Required

Kitchen Makeovers has taken on four new franchisees in recent months, none of whom had any previous experience – proving window installers could do well branching into the sector.

The latest recruits come from a range of professional backgrounds, from hospitality and retail to manufacturing, with one coming straight from completing a business degree. They all had one thing in common: a desire to become a business owner, improve their incomes and be in control of their work/life balance.

“We’re chuffed to welcome another four franchisees into the network,” said Will Frankling, the co-founder of Kitchen Makeovers. “What’s particularly exciting about this group is the diversity of their backgrounds. You don’t need previous kitchen fitting experience to succeed with our model as we look for people with the right attitude, strong customer focus and the drive to build their own business.”

Already making money

One of those new starters is Andy Billage, who has launched Kitchen Makeovers in Stourbridge in the West Midlands. After 17 years in hospitality, including the past seven as a hotel general manager, Billage was looking for a better work-life balance and more time with his young family. Despite only launching in late January 2026, he’s already smashed his Q1 target thanks to a combination of his brilliant customer service track record and the market demand for a quality, stress-free kitchen renovation.

He told Installation Eye: “I recently took the kids to the zoo during half term which is something I’d never have been able to do before. We’ve got trips planned for the year, and it just feels like a completely different way of living. That was the goal from the start.”

Can you stand the heat?

Joining Billage are three further franchisees who showcase the accessibility of the opportunity and the broad range of skills that can transfer into the Kitchen Makeovers model. Pablo Alvarez has launched Kitchen Makeovers Wigan alongside his partner, Emily, after leaving his role in a retail warehouse. In Coventry. Kenny Aladenola joins the network as a recent business graduate, keen to apply his academic knowledge in a hands-on environment. Meanwhile, in Peterborough, Faizan Anwer brings 20 years of quality standards, attention to detail and customer-focused service from the medical device manufacturing sector into his new business.

To prepare for launch, each new franchisee completed Kitchen Makeovers’ training programme at the Harpenden head office. Reflecting on the experience, Billage said, “The training week was really helpful and gave me a lot of confidence going into the business. What stood out was being able to practise things properly in the training kitchen and not just sit in a classroom.”

Tarting up not replacing

Kitchen Makeovers has built its reputation on offering homeowners a smarter alternative to a full kitchen replacement, transforming existing spaces by replacing doors, worktops and other key elements. The model continues to attract franchisees from a variety of professional backgrounds, with customer service, people skills and ambition proving key to early success.

As demand for cost-effective home improvement solutions grows, Kitchen Makeovers is well-positioned to expand further while supporting franchisees to establish strong local reputations.

Picture: New Kitchen Makeovers franchisees from left to right: Andy Billage, Faizan Anwer, Pablo Alvarez and Emily, and Kenny Aladenola.

For more information about Kitchen Makeovers, go to www.kitchenmakeovers.co.uk/franchise