Healey – who set up the group in 1993 with managing director Yvonne Leslie – said on Saturday (22 April) that there are a lot of opportunities, especially after Covid.

“After all the pain of the last few years, the business does feel like it’s returning to something close to normal,” he told homeworking agents and suppliers gathered onboard the MSC Virtuosa for Vertical’s annual conference. 

Over the past year, Vertical’s homeworking division has grown significantly, with sales surging by 74% and agent numbers going up by 40% to 200 members. 

Productivity has also soared by 50%, with the number of homeworkers reporting more than £1 million in sales increasing to 23 over the past 12 months.

The chief executive has also announced that this year the group will target annual revenue of more than £100m in the UK alone.

“Our overall business in the UK will, at the end of this month, end up to be about £87 million for the whole year,” he added. “So thank you for that, but our ambition next year is to exceed £100 million in the UK, and I think you’re willing to do that.”

Healey’s words were echoed by business development director Damian McDonough, who told delegates to ride the “travel wave.” “Travel is in a good place,” he said. “Don’t just sit there and let it happen, push the boat [into the water].”