After years in senior management at BT Openreach, Ben Aires made a decisive shift from corporate leadership to local entrepreneurship by launching a More Than Loft Ladders franchise in Norfolk. The move marked more than a career change. It reflected a desire to build a business rooted in practical service while creating tangible opportunities within the community he now calls home.
That ambition took shape through a partnership with Rippleacts, a Norfolk-based social enterprise that supports people facing barriers to employment. Rather than treating work placements as temporary exercises, Aires viewed them as pathways to sustainable work. The collaboration aimed to provide hands-on experience that could translate into paid roles, reinforcing the idea that small businesses can play a meaningful role in workforce development.
One of those opportunities involved Luke, a job seeker with practical skills but limited access to stable employment. Within weeks of joining the business, Luke’s placement evolved into a permanent position. Aires said the experience reaffirmed his belief that confidence and capability often flourish when individuals are given trust and responsibility. Watching that progression, he noted, was among the most rewarding aspects of running the franchise.
More Than Loft Ladders Norfolk offers loft ladder installations and related home improvement services, helping homeowners unlock unused space while maintaining a strong focus on safety and quality. For Aires, the business is also a vehicle for building a workplace culture that values growth, inclusion, and accountability alongside commercial performance.
Liam Hobbs, franchise director at More Than Loft Ladders, said Aires’s approach reflects the wider values of the brand. By combining entrepreneurship with social responsibility, the Norfolk franchise demonstrates how locally owned businesses can strengthen communities while building resilient, people-focused operations.
