“It’s important to promise high-quality training, but what really sets your franchise apart is delivering an experience above and beyond what’s expected,” says Poppies MD Chris Wooton
The age-old belief that practice makes perfect, while true to some extent, only tells half the story. What is more accurate, in fact, is that practice makes permanent. Regardless of your industry, occupation, or the seniority of your position, it should always be a key aspect of what you do.
This notion of practice making permanent highlights the need for exceptional training in franchising, as without it, there’s a risk that franchisees will not be able to deliver on a franchisor’s expectations.
Ongoing training nurtures team development
One of the biggest mistakes a franchisor can make is to forget about training once a franchisee has been onboarded. Ongoing training is proven to be one of the best ways to ensure franchisee success, but it has to be well thought through and prioritised on a continual basis.
Nurture the development of your franchisees, prevent standards from slipping over time, and ensure they’re up to date on any changes occurring in your industry of operation – no matter how big or small.
Strong foundations
Studies have shown that retention rates rise between 30-50 per cent for companies with strong learning cultures*. An emphasis on development and learning is an important element of what makes the franchise industry so strong. By showing prospective franchisees, employees, and those in head office that you’re invested as much in their development as they are, you’ll have less staff turnover, ultimately solidifying your brand’s culture and mission.
Remember, keeping things fresh with new faces and processes is the best way to stay current, but it’s having a strong foundation of franchisees that truly determines the success of a franchise.
Retain consistency
It’s imperative for franchises to educate franchisees on all aspects of the brand, from its culture and mission to its application and service. Whether the franchise has been operational for one year or 100, embedding consistency by conveying important messages from day one helps customers and your network understand what the business truly stands for.
Poppies establishes a networkwide consistency by providing in-depth training tailored towards the personalities and needs of the franchise partners joining, which is something all brands should consider. By offering launch support, regular ongoing training, and diversity of lessons, both practical and classroom-based, the brand maintains its consistency all over the U.K.
Edden Jones of Poppies York highlights the importance of established businesses using their experience to provide franchisees with exceptional systems for ongoing training. “Having the backing of the franchise is a huge advantage. I only launched in January, but I wouldn’t be this far ahead if I was on my own.
“A big reason why I chose to join the Poppies franchise was the longevity of its business. It’s been going 40 years plus, and that stood out to me. This isn’t a fly-by-night company. Some of my colleagues have been doing this for 25 to 30 years, so if I encounter a problem, they have the experience to advise the best way forward.”
Streamlined recruitment
The first thing prospects see from a franchise is the quality of the training on offer. A staggering 70 per cent of employees would be somewhat likely to leave their current job to work for an organisation known for investing in employee development and learning*.
Franchising is certainly an industry that demands commitment, and the best way to show that as a franchisor is to demonstrate that all operations in your business, including the training process, are attractive to ambitious and motivated people. This equally eases your recruitment process as a franchisor, as a high-quality training programme will attract higher-quality prospective franchisees.
Simon West, franchisee of Poppies Chesterfield and Mansfield, highlights the importance of a training programme that provides all the necessary resources that entrepreneurs seek to make their franchise a success. “I was aware that as a franchisee I would receive training and support, but the reality of what I experienced went beyond what I’d ever imagined,” explains Simon. “The programme was comprehensive and gave me all the tools I needed to get started. It was extremely beneficial to shadow other franchisees and see how everything worked in practice. I was 100 per cent positive that I’d made the right decision.”
New challenges
Now more than ever, employees are looking for new challenges that will stimulate them and help them progress in their careers after a long period of being kept on hold. In fact, 34 per cent of employees leaving their jobs are doing so because they’re actively seeking more career development opportunities*. opportunities for franchisees to take on new challenges and learn about what more they can do to reap the benefits of a business that sits firmly in the modern world.
Rigorous and detailed training
You might wonder if there are unnecessary elements to a franchisee training programme, but leave no stone unturned! Addressing finer details helps franchisees and employees gain a feel for the bigger picture of the overall operations of the franchise.
Ensuring your network has the resources and understanding required to ensure the smooth running of a diversity of situations and operations is a great way of showing customers the quality of the brand and its employees. Understanding some of the finer details may never be required in trading, but for franchisees, having that additional knowledge is incredibly valuable towards providing a consistent, high-quality service.
It’s important to promise high-quality training, but what really sets your franchise apart is delivering an experience above and beyond what’s expected. Preparing a comprehensive and inspiring programme will give your franchisees the tools required to not only operate autonomously but also to deliver a service that they believe in. Letting your new franchisees see what their training looks like in action ensures consistency is maintained and helps your network to see that they’ve made the right decision in joining your brand.
*Lorman, 2021, 39 Statistics that Prove the Value of Employee Training
The author
Chris Wootton is the owner, MD, and a long-standing franchisee of Poppies, with over two decades of experience in both the cleaning and franchise industries.
