The family of Adrian Howe, a former Vodafone store manager who was found drowned days before his new franchise was to open, is pressing the government to introduce a franchising law in his name. The call comes after Vodafone settled a legal claim filed by 62 former franchisees who alleged the company unjustly enriched itself by up to £85m.
Vodafone settles franchisee claim without admission of liability
The confidential agreement was reached 19 months after the claim was originally filed at the high court. Both parties said in a joint statement that it was settled without any admission of liability. The 62 claimants represented almost 40% of the total 167 Vodafone franchisees.
Vodafone apologised to the claimants after the Guardian first reported their plight in December 2024. The claimants had blamed pressure from the telecoms group for triggering suicidal thoughts. However, their number did not include Adrian Howe, who killed himself in 2018 after becoming convinced his franchising deal would be financially ruinous.
'There is no protection for franchisees in the UK'
Howe's case was raised in parliament in January, prompting then-prime minister Keir Starmer to pledge a review of laws governing franchising agreements. His daughter, Kirsty-Anne Holmes, said: "There is no protection for franchisees in the UK – that needs to change. There needs to be some governing body to oversee these contracts. The fact that franchisors like Vodafone can put anything into a contract, such as personal guarantees, is really bad behaviour. If these protections had been in place previously, my dad taking his own life might not have happened."
Holmes met a representative of the Department for Business and Trade earlier this month to discuss her father's case and raised the prospect of new regulations under the banner of "Adrian's law". She added: "I don't want it to be forgotten and brushed under the carpet just because someone else takes over. I want justice for Dad."
Howe's story: personal guarantee risked family home
Howe, 58, had been preparing to open a single Vodafone franchise in Irvine, North Ayrshire, but was then told by the company he needed to take on a second franchise in Kilmarnock. He had previously worked in the Kilmarnock store and knew it had struggled. If its performance could not be turned around, the family home would have been at risk due to a personal guarantee given to Vodafone as part of its franchising contracts.
Howe's youngest son, Nathan, recalled his father telling him "Vodafone has me by the balls" when they met for a drink shortly before his death. His father then added: "This pint might have saved me." Howe was found drowned a short walk from his home on 27 August 2018, days before his franchise was to open on 2 September. A notepad discovered at his home contained the entry: "1st September nice to have death," according to the postmortem report.
Pathologist noted stress and anxiety history
The pathologist stated that Howe's death was "consistent with drowning" and noted a "history of anxiety and depression (1995)". His relatives said that mental health episode had been short-lived and never recurred. The forensic pathologist also stated that Howe had "been 'a bit stressed' due to setting up a new business". Mental health experts emphasise that suicide is usually complex and can involve many triggers.
Vodafone responds
Vodafone did not provide fresh comment on Howe's case this week, but previously said it "wholly rejects" any suggestion it knowingly or recklessly put anybody under unreasonable pressure. A Vodafone UK spokesperson said: "While we are sorry if any partners have had a difficult experience, we reject any suggestion that our franchisees were put under undue pressure. We continue to run a successful franchise operation, and many of our existing franchisees have expanded their business with us by taking on additional stores. We encourage everyone to raise issues, and we will always seek to resolve them."
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741. In Australia, Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
