Duo celebrate franchise award

Stafford businesswoman Sue Milakovic has beaten off challenges from 95 other offices to scoop Bluebird Care's franchise owner the year award - just six months after opening her care-at-home business in the town.

Sue - whose care workers carry out 1,000 visits a week to older and vulnerable people - has created 28 jobs in Stafford and has seen her new business enjoy remarkable growth in record time.

Sue and her husband, John, have played a special role in the Bluebird Care success story as they were the company's first franchise owners back in April 2007, when they opened an office in Cannock, West Midlands.

Now Bluebird Care has 96 offices across the UK and Ireland.

The Milakovic's Cannock office proved a major business success, prompting them to open a second office in Stafford, with one of their original care workers, Allen Willey, appointed care manager.

Bluebird Care's managing director, Paul Tarsey, said, "Bluebird Care has come a long way in four short years and Sue and John have been with us all the way.

"They are both a credit to Bluebird Care and to make a success of their second office, in such short time, is truly phenomenal."