Who are the Directors of Look Local?
Matt Shaw
The founder Matt Shaw, 40 years of age began his career with the
Britannic Assurance Company. After two years behind the desk at the
Britannic, Matt decided to join the Royal Marines and spent six years
as a Royal Marines Commando travelling to various parts of the
world, some troubled and some peaceful.
Since leaving the Marines, Matt always had a burning desire to start
his own business and following a successful spell as a Senior Sales
Executive with a reprographics company Matt finally decided to take
the plunge in 1999.
After careful planning Matt left his relatively secure and well paid job to
develop the original Look Local in early 2000. Starting in his local area of
Solihull, after only 2 months was so pleased with the early results that he created a second book in a
neighbouring territory.
Prior to the launch of Look Local’s third area, Matt’s wife, Jane, left her job as a credit controller in
Solihull to join the business and together they have built Look Local to what it is today.
Matt recalls one particular learning curve!
“Shortly after launching our third book we discovered that Jane was pregnant with twins! It was
then, thankfully, we realised how flexible running Look Local as a business can be.
We grew the business steadily through this period, taking on only what we could manage. Then
once the children started school, we were able to develop the business more rapidly as we had
more available time. We now have 10 Look Locals in the Solihull and Warwickshire area but looking
back it was an interesting way to learn”.
Matt’s and Jane’s commitment to Look Local is plain for all to see. “We are happy to share what we
have created and franchising the business is the way in which we intend to do so. One or several
areas, big or small, growing quickly or at a slow pace we have experience in all aspects of running
this business and what is important to our Franchisee’s is that we continue to do so from offices in
Warwickshire”.
Clive Wheeldon
Matt’s co Director Clive Wheeldon, 46 years of age, is an Engineer by
trade, however, in 1985 chose to pursue a career in Logistics.
“I always had a burning desire to travel and I was quick to seize the
opportunity with an international organisation when it arose” Clive
explains.
“I really enjoy meeting different people and I wanted to see as
much of the world as possible. Being a truly global business,
Logistics gave me the opportunity to work on five different
continents and I will always be indebted to the industry for allowing
me to fulfil my ambitions”
Clive has travelled extensively over the last two decades spending fifteen years with one company.
“I don’t believe in jumping from company to company” Clive says. “Providing you do a good job
and the company looks after you then why change. It is a very special feeling to build a successful
business with the same group of people and I was lucky to experience just that”.
In the early nineties Clive became a Director of the two billion dollar US Logistics company, responsible
for UK operations and sales. Subsequently as Vice President in the same organisation, Clive was responsible for Europe, Middle East
and Africa and prior to leaving the corporate world, as Senior Vice President took the responsibility for
Sales and Marketing globally.
Since 2001 Clive has operated his own business as a consultant to the industry before joining Matt in
2005 to establish Look Local around the UK.
“I am delighted to be working with Matt and Look Local it is an excellent product” says Clive.
“Together with our Franchisees we will build a strong National Brand, these are very exciting times
for Look Local”.
Both Directors have extensive business experience and a comprehensive knowledge of running their
own companies.
Both have great knowledge of the Look Local system and in Matt’s case, having taken the original Look
Local from it’s beginnings to the success it is today, particular experience of all that our Franchisees will
encounter.
We are committed to supporting our Franchisees in all aspects of their progress, after all it is only
through our Franchisees that we will achieve our vision. It is in our interest to see you succeed.
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