Some people embrace DIY and like nothing better than being able to carry out a range of practical tasks around the home. But others, this author included, have no aptitude for mending or installing fixtures and fittings, and their skills stop somewhere between changing a lightbulb and unblocking a sink.

And I must be in the majority, otherwise the concept of Hire a Hubby would never have got off the ground.

Started in 1996 in Australia, there are now more than 300 franchisees Down Under. And it was that which set Michael Bishop thinking about exporting the concept to the UK.

Having operated a franchise in Australia for three years, he has now become the master franchiser for the south-west region of the UK.

Mr Bishop said: “I did a lot of market research and looked at franchising in the UK and decided it could work just as well here as it does in Australia.”

There are now four Hire a Hubby franchisees in Solihull in the West Midlands, London, Cardiff and Oxford, where Mr Bishop has set up the UK headquarters at the Cowley base of storage company Storage King.

Tim Hickson has taken up the challenge of being the Oxfordshire franchisee.

Mr Bishop added: “Oxford was a good place to start because of its central location and we have good facilities to train people here.

“We are training another four franchisees in January and we have had a huge amount of interest from all over the country.”

Taking on a franchise costs about £10,000 which gives the operator full training, an exclusive territory and a branded uniform.

In exchange the potential franchisee will need good handyman skills. Often they will have specialist knowledge — for example, Mr Hickson has good working knowledge on installing staircases.

Rates vary depending on the job.

Mr Bishop explained: “Just changing a couple of lightbulbs for a pensioner will be very little but a more complicated task will be given a free quotation.”

The franchisee can also offer a ‘maintenance audit’ on a property, highlighting areas in need of repair and offering advice on which should be tackled first.

“We get to know a property and can flag up something which may need attention in three years time,” said Mr Bishop.

“Obviously, there has been a downturn but at the end of the day people’s properties are still their main assets and have to be maintained, so there is no real shortage of work.

“We have noticed that people want bits of general maintenance, rather than complete makeovers.”

The work is extremely varied and ranges from simple tasks such as cleaning gutters, through putting together flatpack furniture to more complicated tasks, such as building projects.

Mr Bishop said: “A recent job was building an entertainment unit for a children’s playroom which would house their TV, DVD and Playstations, as well as their toys.”

Hire a Hubby also works for businesses and the Australian company has an entire commercial department dedicated to the needs of firms and property management companies.

Mr Bishop can see growth in that area when it comes to general maintenance, although the UK arm has not reached that stage yet.

Key to the success of the business will be the development of the franchise model and for that Mark Hare, who introduced the Cash Converters loans company to the UK, has come on board.

While he is Australian-born, Mr Bishop’s mother was English and he has dual nationality.

“My grandmother was very clever. She gave me a cricket bat but it was signed by the English team.

“Both countries are home to me — coming to the UK is just a long business trip and setting up this firm has been a fantastic experience.

“I don’t find it terribly different living here and even the cold does not worry me too much.”

Mr Bishop retains an interest in his Hire a Hubby business in Australia which is being managed for him but, thanks to modern technology, staying in contact is not difficult.

“We keep in touch by Skype — it does not seem that far away at all.”

o Contact: Hire a Hubby, 0800 111 4664.

Web: www.hireahubbygroup.com