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New Chapter Begins as Ritchie & Amber Take the Lead at PHG

Professional pet care franchise
Written by Léna Lescot

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The Exciting Transition of the PHG Franchise

April 2025 marked an incredibly exciting moment, as Ritchie and Amber officially took over the PHG franchise following the very well-deserved retirement of founders Peter and Julie Maxted. Having joined PHG as franchisees back in 2018, they fell in love with the brand almost instantly — the warm ethos, the hands-on approach, the family feel, and of course, the huge love for animals that runs through the whole of PHG.

Running PHG together genuinely feels like a dream come true for them both, and they’re determined to carry forward the values that have made PHG so special from day one — friendly, down-to-earth, pet-focused, and proudly non-corporate.

To this very day, Ritchie and Amber continue to run PHG Southampton alongside leading PHG. Staying hands-on with pets keeps them grounded, connected, and completely in touch with the everyday realities of running a gold-standard pet care business.

By running the PHG franchise while staying hands-on in Southampton, Ritchie and Amber are able to provide excellent support and generate new momentum without losing the friendly, personal touch that makes PHG so special.

Pets, Homes and Gardens (PHG) is a beloved pet care franchise that stands out for its community-oriented approach and unwavering dedication to the well-being of animals. PHG delivers premium dog walking, home visits, house sitting and boarding. Under the leadership of Ritchie and Amber, PHG continues to highlight its core values, ensuring that every interaction is enriched with care and personal attention. Today, it continues to grow because its model works: local owner-operators deliver exceptional care, build long-term relationships, and earn the trust of their community.

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LCF FunLanguages announces first annual in-person conference since 2019

LCF FunLanguages HQ has recently  confirmed plans to host its first in-person conference since 2019, marking a return to face-to-face workshops after several years of online training. During and after the pandemic, the organisation continued to support teachers and franchisees through regular Zoom workshops, helping the network stay connected and share ideas. While these sessions have always been both beneficial and effective, the team believes that nothing can match the collaboration and energy of meeting in person.

The conference, planned for June 2026, will bring together teachers, franchisees and trainers from the FunLanguages community for practical workshops, discussion and networking. Attendees will have the opportunity to exchange teaching ideas, explore new activities and learn from colleagues across the network.

LCF FunLanguages recently celebrated delivering language learning programmes for children for four decades, so the event will also help the network to celebrate this incredible anniversary, while providing valuable professional development opportunities. Organisers say the conference will focus on practical support for both teachers and franchisees, while strengthening the sense of community within the network. The event may also provide an opportunity for new teachers and franchise partners to see the engaging resources in action and learn more about what it means to be a part of the LCF FunLanguages family. Further details about the June 2026 conference will be shared with the network in the coming months.

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PHG Webinar Showcases Opportunity to Launch a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business

Pets, Homes and Gardens Webinar Showcases Opportunity to Launch a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business

Pets, Homes and Gardens (PHG), the family-run dog walking and pet sitting franchise, recently hosted a live webinar titled Turn Your Love of Pets Into Your Own Local Business, aimed at people interested in launching their own professional pet care business.

The session was led by PHG franchisor Ritchie Clarke and also featured Danny, the fantastic franchisee behind PHG Haywards Heath. Together, they provided a clear and practical insight into what it takes to build a successful dog walking and pet sitting business under the Pets, Homes and Gardens franchise.

With just under 50 people registered, the webinar gave attendees an excellent overview of how the PHG franchise works in practice. Ritchie introduced the opportunity, spoke about the values behind the brand, and explained why demand for reliable dog walking and pet sitting services continues to grow across the UK.

Danny then shared his experience of launching PHG Haywards Heath after joining the franchise towards the end of 2025. He talked through the early stages of building his dog walking and pet sitting business, the onboarding process, and how he has been developing his local client base.

The webinar concluded with a live Q&A where attendees asked a number of thoughtful questions about starting a dog walking and pet sitting business and what it is like to run a pet care business as part of the PHG network.

For those who missed the live event, the full webinar recording is now available to watch online 👇

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Launch of the PHG Resources Hub — A True Game Changer

PHG is excited to share the launch of the brand-new PHG Resources Hub — a practical online toolkit created to make running a PHG business easier and far less time-consuming. The Hub includes ready-to-use templates, simple step-by-step guides, training materials, systems, and tools designed to save franchisees hours every week. The goal is simple: less time on the laptop, more time doing what they love — working hands-on with pets and delivering an outstanding service.

The early response from franchisees has been brilliant. Many have said the Hub has already made their day-to-day work smoother and far more organised, with everything they need now in one place. Ritchie and Amber are regularly adding new resources to it, keeping it fresh, useful and genuinely helpful. It’s become another way for PHG to stay closely connected and supportive — sharing what works, making life easier, and helping every franchisee feel confident in running their business.