Qualified control - the diploma in franchise management

Qualified control: The diploma in franchise management programme

The diploma in franchise management is a recognised qualification for staff working in UK franchisor organisations. Brian Duckett, Managing Director of Howarth Franchising, reveals how you and your staff can get qualified to become the cream of the crop

The diploma in franchise management recognises those with an all-round understanding of franchise management as well as some original thinking about a particular aspect of the franchising process.

To qualify for the award, candidates will have attended a minimum of eight core workshops and successfully completed a dissertation on aspects of franchise management.

The modules, which form the basis of the programme, were developed by The Franchise Training Centre, part of Howarth Franchising Group, and were originally accredited by Middlesex University Business School.

The core

The eight core workshops that must be attended within a period of two years are:

•    How to find franchisees
•    How to recruit franchisees
•    How to monitor franchisees' performance
•    How to get the best from field visits
•    How to motivate franchisees
•    How to manage franchise resales
•    How to avoid litigation against franchisors and franchisees
•    How to understand franchisees' financial performance

Where a candidate believes they can already demonstrate competence in any of these areas they can apply for recognition of prior learning or recognition of current competence in that area and may then not need to attend the relevant workshop. Application for such recognition must be accompanied by a paper prepared by the candidate that demonstrates they have not only an understanding of how their own franchise system operates, but also a general understanding of the options available within franchising for the structure of such systems.

Write on

After or during attendance at the workshop modules, the candidate must write a dissertation of not less than 5,000 words on a franchise-related subject. The subject must be agreed with The Franchise Training Centre. The dissertation should address the chosen subject under two headings; the theory of this aspect of franchise management and its practical application within one or more franchises. Wherever possible it should include elements of original research that will contribute to the general fund of franchising knowledge. Where applicable the dissertation should be endorsed by a senior manager within the applicant's franchise operation.

The diploma recognises that the candidate has committed to a process of formal training and development, and has acquired skills relevant to the franchise sector. This can be of great benefit when seeking to make a career move within the franchising community, particularly where many employers now specify the diploma as one of the criteria for consideration when making additions to their management team.

In the current climate, where staff is likely to switch from sales to support roles, all-round capability will be particularly relevant.

Details of the diploma, and the individual modules which make up the programme, can be found at www.thefranchisetrainingcentre.com. Most workshops are delivered three times a year, in venues in London and York, but it is also possible to arrange bespoke in-house sessions for franchisors that have a large management and support team. A minimum of six delegates would be advisable for each workshop.