Key facts
- The family of Adrian Howe, a former Vodafone franchise manager, is calling for new UK franchising laws.
- Howe died by suicide in 2018, days before his new Vodafone franchise was set to open.
- His family believes financial pressures from Vodafone contributed to his death.
- Vodafone recently settled a £85m claim with 62 former franchisees over alleged unfair practices.
- Howe's daughter is advocating for 'Adrian's Law' to provide franchisee protections.
The family of Adrian Howe, a former Vodafone franchise manager who died by suicide in 2018, is urging the UK government to introduce new franchising legislation named in his honor. Howe's family believes that financial pressures and contractual obligations imposed by Vodafone contributed to his death.
This call for reform follows a recent confidential settlement where Vodafone agreed to pay up to £85 million to 62 former franchisees who alleged the company had unjustly enriched itself at their expense. The plight of these franchisees, who represented nearly 40% of Vodafone's total franchisee base, was highlighted in a Guardian report in December 2024. While Vodafone apologized to the claimants, Howe's case was not included in that settlement.
Howe, 58, was preparing to open a single franchise but was reportedly told to take on a second, struggling location. His family recalls him expressing deep concern about a personal guarantee that could put their home at risk if the second store's performance did not improve. His son recounted Howe saying, "Vodafone has me by the balls" shortly before his death.
Howe's case was raised in Parliament in January, leading to a pledge from the then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer to review franchising laws. His daughter, Kirsty-Anne Holmes, has met with a government representative to discuss her father's case and the prospect of new regulations, emphasizing the lack of protection for franchisees in the UK and the need for a governing body to oversee contracts. She stated, "There is no protection for franchisees in the UK – that needs to change."
Vodafone has previously stated it "wholly rejects" any suggestion that it knowingly or negligently put franchisees under unreasonable pressure, asserting that many existing franchisees have successfully expanded their businesses with the company. Mental health experts note that suicide is typically complex and can have multiple triggers.