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News from the Irish Franchise Association
November 2006

The activities of the Irish Franchise Association, which represents the main franchisors and consultants in Ireland, are designed to raise the profile of business format franchising as a means of starting a business as a franchisee, or expanding an existing business by franchise development, and a summary of ongoing events is outlined below:

Regional seminars/presentations
We have reached over 600 prospective franchisees and franchisors so far this year with Franchising: All You Need to Know seminars, in Dublin, Limerick, Mullingar, Clonakilty and Galway; and addressed entrepreneurial studies students at two Dublin universities. Autumn seminars are planned for Dublin, Carlow and Waterford/Wexford. Our regular workshop for existing business owners, How to Franchise your Business – An Introduction, will be held in November. Details are on the events section of our website.

Training for franchisors is planned for November at the National College of Ireland and will be given by Howarth Franchising. Modules will, for example, cover subjects like Marketing a Franchise, Recruiting Franchisees, Motivating and Monitoring Franchisees.

Irish Franchise Awards 2006
Now in their third year, the Awards are organised by the Irish Franchise Association to recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the growth and development of the franchise industry on the island of Ireland. The awards are expected to attract national media attention and to provide good PR opportunities for the winners.

The Awards categories are: Franchise of the Year; Franchisee of the Year; Best Emerging Franchise; Franchise Person of the Year.
Sponsored by Franchise Direct and the Irish Franchise Exhibition, the awards take place at the Davenport Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 4 on Friday 17 November 2006.

In his address at the 2005 awards dinner, Brody Sweeney, the 2004 Franchise Person of the Year and MD of O’Brien’s Irish Sandwich Bars, said: ‘Our policy makers should not overlook the importance of the franchise sector.

Numerous reports have highlighted the growing importance of the service sector in delivering future wealth and employment growth in Ireland. As an integral and vital component in the service sector, the Irish Franchise industry has a valuable contribution to make towards the shaping of future industrial and business policy.’