For the second year in a row, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) have been named Bronze Franchisor of the Year by the British Franchise Association (bfa). Hundreds of entries from businesses spanning all industries and sectors were whittled down to a shortlist of five truly outstanding franchisors. Standing toe-to-toe with leading global and domestic brands, ERA fought off fierce competition to receive the award in front of more than 350 guests at a glittering black tie event, hosted in the heart of Birmingham, at the city’s International Conferencing Centre. “We’re delighted and incredibly proud to have won this award for a second time. But the real stars of ERA are our people; from the dedicated, hardworking team at head office to our incredible Franchise Partners. Each and every one of them have my sincere thanks for the part they play in making this business the success that it is,” said Robert Allison ERA UK's Managing Director. Supported by HSBC, the bfa Franchisor of the Year Award is the highest accolade any Franchisor can achieve. Judges demand substantial evidence of a quality model and systems, strong ethics and proof of consistent franchisee success. Winners are those Franchisors who have distinguished themselves through their accomplishments and sustained franchising excellence. ERA are world leaders in cost management and procurement consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods that optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, the ERA network has enjoyed impressive sales increases over the past five years, and are projecting a 13.2% growth in the next financial year. Unlike most franchisors, ERA is committed to growing its own business not by recruiting large numbers of Franchise Partners each year but instead by growing and developing the business of each and every Franchise Partner. The key belief being that Franchise Partner success equals Franchisor success and that the network is indeed, stronger together. Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive of the British Franchise Association congratulated ERA on their achievement: “To win this award two years in a row is quite exceptional and demonstrates ERA’s unwavering commitment to their entire franchise network. The whole team should be extremely proud of the culture of collaboration and communication they’ve built. I’ve no doubt ERA will continue to inspire us all with their innovation and ethics - we’ve very proud to call them a member of the Association.” Only a select few can boast the title of Franchisor of the Year, fewer still for two years in a row. The 2017 award confirms the team themselves, and to anyone thinking of investing in the business, that ERA is one of the UK’s premier franchisors with a business model and culture worthy of celebration.
For the second year in a row, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) have been named Bronze Franchisor of the Year by the British Franchise Association (bfa).
Hundreds of entries from businesses spanning all industries and sectors were whittled down to a shortlist of five truly outstanding franchisors. Standing toe-to-toe with leading global and domestic brands, ERA fought off fierce competition to receive the award in front of more than 350 guests at a glittering black tie event, hosted in the heart of Birmingham, at the city’s International Conferencing Centre.
“We’re delighted and incredibly proud to have won this award for a second time. But the real stars of ERA are our people; from the dedicated, hardworking team at head office to our incredible Franchise Partners. Each and every one of them have my sincere thanks for the part they play in making this business the success that it is,” said Robert Allison ERA UK's Managing Director.
Supported by HSBC, the bfa Franchisor of the Year Award is the highest accolade any Franchisor can achieve. Judges demand substantial evidence of a quality model and systems, strong ethics and proof of consistent franchisee success. Winners are those Franchisors who have distinguished themselves through their accomplishments and sustained franchising excellence.
ERA are world leaders in cost management and procurement consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods that optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, the ERA network has enjoyed impressive sales increases over the past five years, and are projecting a 13.2% growth in the next financial year.
Unlike most franchisors, ERA is committed to growing its own business not by recruiting large numbers of Franchise Partners each year but instead by growing and developing the business of each and every Franchise Partner. The key belief being that Franchise Partner success equals Franchisor success and that the network is indeed, stronger together.
Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive of the British Franchise Association congratulated ERA on their achievement: “To win this award two years in a row is quite exceptional and demonstrates ERA’s unwavering commitment to their entire franchise network. The whole team should be extremely proud of the culture of collaboration and communication they’ve built. I’ve no doubt ERA will continue to inspire us all with their innovation and ethics - we’ve very proud to call them a member of the Association.”
Only a select few can boast the title of Franchisor of the Year, fewer still for two years in a row. The 2017 award confirms the team themselves, and to anyone thinking of investing in the business, that ERA is one of the UK’s premier franchisors with a business model and culture worthy of celebration.
They were crowned Bronze winners in 2016 and now, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) have once again been shortlisted for the British Franchise Association’s Franchisor of the Year award for 2017. This is an unprecedented 4th consecutive shortlisting and marks the start of what promises to be another distinguished year for ERA. With a staggering 14 industry award shortlisting's in less than six years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that ERA could rest on its laurels. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and the brand continues to push the boundaries with innovative solutions, improved tools and advanced support for both its Franchise Partners and its customers. Unlike most franchisors, ERA is committed to growing its own business not by recruiting large numbers of Franchise Partners each year but instead by growing and developing the business of each and every Franchise Partner. The key belief being that Franchise Partner success equals franchisor success and that the network is indeed, stronger together. The company awards franchises to a select number of high-calibre individuals each year and efforts are then concentrated on ensuring these Franchise Partners launch with maximum impact before they join the continuous development programme for the entire network. As their impressive string of awards show, it’s a strategy that has served ERA well. As further testament to this ethos, two of the company’s first ever Franchise Partners renewed their agreements for a third time in 2017, sealing their 30-year commitment to the business they know and love. “A huge factor in my decision to renew again was that management continually aims to improve the business for all concerned and there’s a real feeling of camaraderie. I’m always impressed by the appetite to nurture growth from within and the focus on innovation. New tools are forever being created to help us work more efficiently and the things that head office produce now like marketing and technical info that we release to the market are second-to-none. I’m proud to be a part of it,” explained Neil Cullen, Franchise Partner since 1996. ERA are world leaders in Cost Management and Procurement Consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods which optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, the ERA network has enjoyed impressive sales increases over the past five years. The bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year awards are the franchise industry’s highest accolade and highlight the UK’s most exceptional franchisors. Finalists are made up of brands that are driving business success through best practice, innovative strategies and strong relationships with their networks. When asked about this latest achievement, UK Managing Director, Rob Allison, says he couldn’t be more proud: “Winning Bronze last year is something that we’re immensely proud of. To be finalists again this year is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the fabulous people involved. From my team at head office, who strive every day to be better than the last, to our Franchise Partners whose commitment and support for the brand is unwavering. The communication, openness and interdependency within the network is really where our success lies and we continue to grow stronger as a result.”
They were crowned Bronze winners in 2016 and now, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) have once again been shortlisted for the British Franchise Association’s Franchisor of the Year award for 2017. This is an unprecedented 4th consecutive shortlisting and marks the start of what promises to be another distinguished year for ERA.
With a staggering 14 industry award shortlisting's in less than six years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that ERA could rest on its laurels. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and the brand continues to push the boundaries with innovative solutions, improved tools and advanced support for both its Franchise Partners and its customers.
Unlike most franchisors, ERA is committed to growing its own business not by recruiting large numbers of Franchise Partners each year but instead by growing and developing the business of each and every Franchise Partner. The key belief being that Franchise Partner success equals franchisor success and that the network is indeed, stronger together.
The company awards franchises to a select number of high-calibre individuals each year and efforts are then concentrated on ensuring these Franchise Partners launch with maximum impact before they join the continuous development programme for the entire network. As their impressive string of awards show, it’s a strategy that has served ERA well.
As further testament to this ethos, two of the company’s first ever Franchise Partners renewed their agreements for a third time in 2017, sealing their 30-year commitment to the business they know and love.
“A huge factor in my decision to renew again was that management continually aims to improve the business for all concerned and there’s a real feeling of camaraderie. I’m always impressed by the appetite to nurture growth from within and the focus on innovation. New tools are forever being created to help us work more efficiently and the things that head office produce now like marketing and technical info that we release to the market are second-to-none. I’m proud to be a part of it,” explained Neil Cullen, Franchise Partner since 1996.
ERA are world leaders in Cost Management and Procurement Consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods which optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, the ERA network has enjoyed impressive sales increases over the past five years.
The bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year awards are the franchise industry’s highest accolade and highlight the UK’s most exceptional franchisors. Finalists are made up of brands that are driving business success through best practice, innovative strategies and strong relationships with their networks.
When asked about this latest achievement, UK Managing Director, Rob Allison, says he couldn’t be more proud: “Winning Bronze last year is something that we’re immensely proud of. To be finalists again this year is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the fabulous people involved. From my team at head office, who strive every day to be better than the last, to our Franchise Partners whose commitment and support for the brand is unwavering. The communication, openness and interdependency within the network is really where our success lies and we continue to grow stronger as a result.”
Setting the jewel in an already dazzling crown, ERA has been named Bronze Franchisor of the Year 2016 by the British Franchise Association. Hundreds of entrants, including vibrant global and domestic brands from McDonald’s to Water Babies were whittled down to a shortlist of seven truly exceptional franchisors. The judges themselves acknowledged that the competition had never been more fierce! The winners, they said, were premier examples of the success that can be achieved when a franchisor embraces its franchisees as business partners. When a franchisor strives for innovation, provides exceptional levels of support and, above all, embodies a passion for collaboration and inclusion. “I’m flattered and delighted that in a line-up including huge corporations, it was ERA that was chosen as a winner. I would like to thank our amazing and dedicated head office team and our franchisees. It’s to each and every one of them that this award really belongs,” said Robert Allison, ERAUK's Managing Director, on the night. The British Franchise Association’s (bfa) Franchisor of the Year Award is the highest accolade any Franchisor can achieve. A panel of specialist judges oversee hundreds of entries from businesses spanning all industries and sectors. Only franchisors who demonstrate an outstanding passion and commitment to not only their own businesses but those of their franchisees, both current and future, are victorious. ERA are world leaders in Cost Management and Procurement Consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods which optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, ERA Franchise Partners have enjoyed an impressive increase in sales over the past five years. Unlike most franchisors, ERA is committed to growing its own business not by recruiting large numbers of Franchise Partners each year but instead by growing and developing the business of each and every Franchise Partner. The key belief being that Franchise Partner success equals Franchisor success and that the network is indeed, stronger together. Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive of the British Franchise Association congratulated ERA on their achievement: “The whole team should be immensely proud. ERA set the bar incredibly high and stand out as shining examples of not just best practice and ethical franchising but as leaders in promoting a culture of communication, openness and interdependency within the network. A truly inspiring franchisor whom we are proud to call a member of the association.” The bronze award cements ERA’s place as one of the UK’s premier franchisors. Finalists for several consecutive years up to this point, ERA has continuously proven their model and ethics is worthy of celebration and recognition.
In October 2015, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) welcomed five new recruits on to the last Franchise Partner training course of the year. Barry Donovan, Lyn Pyatt, Neil Pinner, Richard Slater and Stewart Anderson all saw in ERA the opportunity to achieve dreams of business ownership, financial freedom and become part of a successful and diverse network of professionals. Six months later, they’re all feeling empowered by their decisions. Laying secure foundations for future success and, in some cases, have already smashed their initial targets to pieces! “I set myself a target of five clients in 12 months and I’ve done that by the end of month six! So, I’m doubling my target now - I want to reach 10 clients by the end of the year. It’s not easy but anything worth having requires a bit of hard work; you just have to be proactive and put the effort in,” says Stewart Anderson. ERA are world leaders in cost management and procurement consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods which optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, ERA Franchise Partners have enjoyed an impressive increase in sales over the past five years. “What attracted me to ERA initially was the variety of the work and the customer facing side of things. I’m a real people-person! The more I looked into it the thought of working with different companies across many industries and in different scenarios to save people money… really appealed to me!” Success for me is about gaining my financial freedom, I plan to be earning the same or more as I was in previous role within two years. That’s my goal and I’m well on track!” enthuses Stewart. Stewart is by no means alone in his early successes. The rest of the new recruits are each seizing opportunities to grow their businesses whilst enjoying the freedom of being their own boss. “I’m very busy! I’ve had lots of client meetings, got one signed and a couple just about to plus some additional consulting work coming in too. It’s fair to say I’m happy with how it’s going! I’m on plan to hit my targets and pretty soon I will have to decide whether to dedicate the majority of my time to being a specialist consultant or a Business Development Manager within the network. At the moment I choose to do both as a dual role because I enjoy both; it’s nice to have the option!” explains Barry Donovan “I’ve never had my own business before and that’s why franchising appealed to me. I’d have really struggled to achieve what I have in just six months had I tried to go it alone. The help and support from ERA has been tremendous. The training was through and intense but it’s the support you get afterwards that’s been the thing for me,” adds Stewart. ERA’s award-winning programme of training and support is designed to equip you with all the knowledge and confidence you need to successfully launch and run your business, whatever your skills or background. New Franchise Partners undertake a tailored five-week course consisting of classroom and hands-on learning at the ERA Academy. “The training was very good indeed, very comprehensive. The team at head office took a lot of time, and have done subsequently, to make sure you understood all aspects of the business. In fact the IT support team have just run a session on CRM as a refresher for the five of us who were on the October course. It’s a perfect example of them going the extra mile. The ongoing support is great. If you have any issues you just call head office, they are always available. I actually think the support provided is more than I expected it to be before I joined!” says Lyn Pyatt. When you join ERA, you join a network of over 150 consultants, each an expert in their own field. Access to this combined knowledge ensures that your business isn’t confined to one or two cost centres or even your own area of specialism. Franchise Partners work together to maximise opportunities for collaboration, expansion and guidance. One of my favourite things about ERA is very much being part of the collective. You don’t have to be but you can choose to be involved and there’s such a great community and team spirit, knowledge sharing and support that I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to be a part of it,” adds Lyn. All new Franchise Partners are paired with a mentor after training and October’s recruits were no different. As Barry Donovan explains, this unique and integrated approach has been hugely beneficial already: “each of us that was on the training course in October has an existing, experienced Franchise Partner as a mentor. I’ve been really pleased with the programme and in fact most of my day-to-day support has been with my mentor. He’s always there if I need him and because he’s actually been through what I’m now doing, he totally understands. Even if I don’t actually have problem that needs solving, just chatting to him for reassurance and to hear his experiences is priceless.” From award-winning training and industry leading support programmes to one of the most inclusive and collaborative networks in the UK. It’s no surprise that ERA Franchise Partners continue to thrive from day one. The five newest additions to the ranks have hit the ground running and after just six months are well on their way towards their own personal ideals of success as part of the ERA franchise family.
In October 2015, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) welcomed five new recruits on to the last Franchise Partner training course of the year. Barry Donovan, Lyn Pyatt, Neil Pinner, Richard Slater and Stewart Anderson all saw in ERA the opportunity to achieve dreams of business ownership, financial freedom and become part of a successful and diverse network of professionals. Six months later, they’re all feeling empowered by their decisions. Laying secure foundations for future success and, in some cases, have already smashed their initial targets to pieces! “I set myself a target of five clients in 12 months and I’ve done that by the end of month six! So, I’m doubling my target now - I want to reach 10 clients by the end of the year. It’s not easy but anything worth having requires a bit of hard work; you just have to be proactive and put the effort in,” says Stewart Anderson.
ERA are world leaders in cost management and procurement consultancy. Franchise Partners are trained to offer strategic advice and practical methods which optimise supplier relationships and generate cash. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, ERA Franchise Partners have enjoyed an impressive increase in sales over the past five years. “What attracted me to ERA initially was the variety of the work and the customer facing side of things. I’m a real people-person! The more I looked into it the thought of working with different companies across many industries and in different scenarios to save people money… really appealed to me!” Success for me is about gaining my financial freedom, I plan to be earning the same or more as I was in previous role within two years. That’s my goal and I’m well on track!” enthuses Stewart.
Stewart is by no means alone in his early successes. The rest of the new recruits are each seizing opportunities to grow their businesses whilst enjoying the freedom of being their own boss. “I’m very busy! I’ve had lots of client meetings, got one signed and a couple just about to plus some additional consulting work coming in too. It’s fair to say I’m happy with how it’s going! I’m on plan to hit my targets and pretty soon I will have to decide whether to dedicate the majority of my time to being a specialist consultant or a Business Development Manager within the network. At the moment I choose to do both as a dual role because I enjoy both; it’s nice to have the option!” explains Barry Donovan “I’ve never had my own business before and that’s why franchising appealed to me. I’d have really struggled to achieve what I have in just six months had I tried to go it alone. The help and support from ERA has been tremendous. The training was through and intense but it’s the support you get afterwards that’s been the thing for me,” adds Stewart. ERA’s award-winning programme of training and support is designed to equip you with all the knowledge and confidence you need to successfully launch and run your business, whatever your skills or background. New Franchise Partners undertake a tailored five-week course consisting of classroom and hands-on learning at the ERA Academy. “The training was very good indeed, very comprehensive. The team at head office took a lot of time, and have done subsequently, to make sure you understood all aspects of the business. In fact the IT support team have just run a session on CRM as a refresher for the five of us who were on the October course. It’s a perfect example of them going the extra mile. The ongoing support is great. If you have any issues you just call head office, they are always available. I actually think the support provided is more than I expected it to be before I joined!” says Lyn Pyatt. When you join ERA, you join a network of over 150 consultants, each an expert in their own field. Access to this combined knowledge ensures that your business isn’t confined to one or two cost centres or even your own area of specialism. Franchise Partners work together to maximise opportunities for collaboration, expansion and guidance. One of my favourite things about ERA is very much being part of the collective. You don’t have to be but you can choose to be involved and there’s such a great community and team spirit, knowledge sharing and support that I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to be a part of it,” adds Lyn. All new Franchise Partners are paired with a mentor after training and October’s recruits were no different. As Barry Donovan explains, this unique and integrated approach has been hugely beneficial already: “each of us that was on the training course in October has an existing, experienced Franchise Partner as a mentor. I’ve been really pleased with the programme and in fact most of my day-to-day support has been with my mentor. He’s always there if I need him and because he’s actually been through what I’m now doing, he totally understands. Even if I don’t actually have problem that needs solving, just chatting to him for reassurance and to hear his experiences is priceless.” From award-winning training and industry leading support programmes to one of the most inclusive and collaborative networks in the UK. It’s no surprise that ERA Franchise Partners continue to thrive from day one. The five newest additions to the ranks have hit the ground running and after just six months are well on their way towards their own personal ideals of success as part of the ERA franchise family.
No stranger to the podium, in the last five years alone, ERA have been finalists in NINE award categories from these two professional bodies and scooped two awards. The British Franchise Association’s ‘Franchisor of the Year Award’, Franchise Marketing Award’s ‘Best Franchisee Marketing Support’ and ‘Best Overall Marketing Campaign’ complete this year’s impressive line-up. The British Franchise Association’s (bfa) Franchisor of the Year Award is the highest accolade any Franchisor can achieve. A panel of specialist judges oversee hundreds of entries from businesses spanning all industries and sectors. Only those franchisors who demonstrate a passion for and commitment to ethical franchising and can evidence a strong infrastructure and support for their Franchise Partners are put forward as finalists. Finalists in this category are the very cream of the crop. Christopher Aston, Marketing Director at ERA explains the significance of being named one of only seven finalists this year: “It’s such an honour to once again be a finalist for Franchisor of the Year. It’s a great accolade to the fabulous people we have in the business who enable us to do what we do. From my team here at head office to the Franchise Partners themselves. The communication, openness and interdependency within the network is really where our success lies. I truly believe that our success is not down to any one individual but down to us all working as one.” ERA is the UK and Ireland’s leading procurement franchise. Franchise Partners are expertly trained to enable organisations to save money and boost business performance through effective procurement, improved supplier management and smarter spending habits. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, ERA Franchise Partners have enjoyed an impressive increase in sales over the past five years. Over the past 11 years, the Franchise Marketing Awards (FMAs) have become one of the industry's most highly-coveted accolades. They are renowned for celebrating innovative marketing campaigns and effective marketing support offered by franchisors to their Franchise Partners. “The FMAs are a great endorsement of the hard work my team puts into helping our Franchise Partners to market their businesses. It highlights the great collaboration that we have with our network. Our Franchise Partners know what they need to get in front of clients. My team has the skills, the structure and communication lines with the network to develop bespoke collateral to help them win more business. We are constantly interpreting Franchise Partners’ requirements and turning them into tangible deliverables. This openness and co-operation across the entire business allows us to allocate spend where it’s likely to be most effective and have highly focussed initiatives that have a real impact,” adds Chris. As demonstrated by their impressive collection of awards and finalist nominations, ERA’s programme of training and support is designed equip you with all the knowledge and confidence you need to successfully launch and run your business, whatever your skills or background. New Franchise Partners undertake a tailored five-week course consisting of classroom and hands-on learning at the ERA Academy. FMA winners will be announced at The British and International Franchise Show in London this week whilst the bfa awards ceremony forms the glittering finale to the franchise industry’s annual conference in June. Come what may, ERA are already celebrating yet another year of unquestionable triumph.
No stranger to the podium, in the last five years alone, ERA have been finalists in NINE award categories from these two professional bodies and scooped two awards. The British Franchise Association’s ‘Franchisor of the Year Award’, Franchise Marketing Award’s ‘Best Franchisee Marketing Support’ and ‘Best Overall Marketing Campaign’ complete this year’s impressive line-up.
The British Franchise Association’s (bfa) Franchisor of the Year Award is the highest accolade any Franchisor can achieve. A panel of specialist judges oversee hundreds of entries from businesses spanning all industries and sectors. Only those franchisors who demonstrate a passion for and commitment to ethical franchising and can evidence a strong infrastructure and support for their Franchise Partners are put forward as finalists. Finalists in this category are the very cream of the crop.
Christopher Aston, Marketing Director at ERA explains the significance of being named one of only seven finalists this year: “It’s such an honour to once again be a finalist for Franchisor of the Year. It’s a great accolade to the fabulous people we have in the business who enable us to do what we do. From my team here at head office to the Franchise Partners themselves. The communication, openness and interdependency within the network is really where our success lies. I truly believe that our success is not down to any one individual but down to us all working as one.”
ERA is the UK and Ireland’s leading procurement franchise. Franchise Partners are expertly trained to enable organisations to save money and boost business performance through effective procurement, improved supplier management and smarter spending habits. Boasting the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise, ERA Franchise Partners have enjoyed an impressive increase in sales over the past five years.
Over the past 11 years, the Franchise Marketing Awards (FMAs) have become one of the industry's most highly-coveted accolades. They are renowned for celebrating innovative marketing campaigns and effective marketing support offered by franchisors to their Franchise Partners.
“The FMAs are a great endorsement of the hard work my team puts into helping our Franchise Partners to market their businesses. It highlights the great collaboration that we have with our network. Our Franchise Partners know what they need to get in front of clients. My team has the skills, the structure and communication lines with the network to develop bespoke collateral to help them win more business. We are constantly interpreting Franchise Partners’ requirements and turning them into tangible deliverables. This openness and co-operation across the entire business allows us to allocate spend where it’s likely to be most effective and have highly focussed initiatives that have a real impact,” adds Chris.
As demonstrated by their impressive collection of awards and finalist nominations, ERA’s programme of training and support is designed equip you with all the knowledge and confidence you need to successfully launch and run your business, whatever your skills or background. New Franchise Partners undertake a tailored five-week course consisting of classroom and hands-on learning at the ERA Academy.
FMA winners will be announced at The British and International Franchise Show in London this week whilst the bfa awards ceremony forms the glittering finale to the franchise industry’s annual conference in June. Come what may, ERA are already celebrating yet another year of unquestionable triumph.
Members of the Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) network came together in June 2015 to enjoy a productive National Quarterly Conference at Chesford Grange in Kenilworth – the main event of the four such events for 2015/16. Delegates were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of hearing from our keynote speaker – none other than Sally Gunnell, OBE – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth gold medal winner and world record breaker over the 400 metre hurdles. Sally delivered a truly inspiring motivational talk on how to apply performance principles from sport to business. Attendees were also treated to a fascinating presentation on the ‘Client Engagement Process’ – delivered by experienced ERA consultancy expert, Stuart Lotherington, and other short presentations centred on network performance and planned future improvements. In line with the ERA conference philosophy of combining hard work with having fun, members also enjoyed a delicious social lunch, plus networking coffee breaks and evening drinks to catch up with old friends and make new connections, an important factor in the success of the ERA network. With seven new additions to the ERA family there was much to discuss. The stage was then set for our annual black tie ‘Gala & Awards Dinner’, with everyone dressing up to look their best in order to celebrate the standout achievements of this year’s finalists. With an auction in aid of the Ben Gannon Appeal rounding off an educational, enjoyable and inspirational day – the event was hailed as a resounding success by everyone who attended. “We’re thrilled that our June National Quarterly Conference was such a memorable occasion,” said Paul Lewis, ERA’s Head of Operations. “Thank you very much to all our members who took the time to attend, and to our guest speaker Sally Gunnell and all the contributors who helped make the event so successful.”
Members of the Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) network came together in June 2015 to enjoy a productive National Quarterly Conference at Chesford Grange in Kenilworth – the main event of the four such events for 2015/16.
Delegates were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of hearing from our keynote speaker – none other than Sally Gunnell, OBE – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth gold medal winner and world record breaker over the 400 metre hurdles.
Sally delivered a truly inspiring motivational talk on how to apply performance principles from sport to business. Attendees were also treated to a fascinating presentation on the ‘Client Engagement Process’ – delivered by experienced ERA consultancy expert, Stuart Lotherington, and other short presentations centred on network performance and planned future improvements.
In line with the ERA conference philosophy of combining hard work with having fun, members also enjoyed a delicious social lunch, plus networking coffee breaks and evening drinks to catch up with old friends and make new connections, an important factor in the success of the ERA network. With seven new additions to the ERA family there was much to discuss.
The stage was then set for our annual black tie ‘Gala & Awards Dinner’, with everyone dressing up to look their best in order to celebrate the standout achievements of this year’s finalists. With an auction in aid of the Ben Gannon Appeal rounding off an educational, enjoyable and inspirational day – the event was hailed as a resounding success by everyone who attended.
“We’re thrilled that our June National Quarterly Conference was such a memorable occasion,” said Paul Lewis, ERA’s Head of Operations. “Thank you very much to all our members who took the time to attend, and to our guest speaker Sally Gunnell and all the contributors who helped make the event so successful.”
Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) are title chasers once more! After just missing out as finalists last year, ERA are delighted to be on the shortlist again for the 2015 HSBC Franchisor of The Year Award, presented by the British Franchise Association (bfa). This exciting news comes after more success at the Franchise Marketing Awards earlier this year, where ERA won for the Best Overall Marketing Campaign. With the bfa judging panel seeking businesses with a commitment to ethical franchising, who provide a supportive environment in which franchise owners can succeed – ERA are proud to be named on the list of finalists for two years in a row, and hope to go one better this time in securing the award. Now in their 26th year, the bfa Franchisor of The Year Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the UK franchise industry, with multiple benefits for winners – not least in building brand recognition and resultant new business for the whole network. With buzz about the news spreading through the ERA family, the Head Office team are thrilled that the repeat nomination reflects their on-going work to build a supportive, profitable business opportunity that really pays off for ERA members. “We are absolutely delighted to make the shortlist for the bfa Franchisor of The Year Awards for a second year in a row,” said Paul Lewis, ERA’s Head of Operations. “It’s a huge honour to be included again and is a great reflection of all the hard work done by both the Head Office team and all our franchise owners during the last twelve months.” With award winning success earlier in the year still fresh in the memory, the feeling at ERA is that it would be great to go all the way this time round. “Of course we’re excited to have even made the final shortlist,” said Paul, “however it would be fantastic if we could take it just one step further this year and come home with the main award. The resulting boost to the whole network would be incredible.”
Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) are title chasers once more! After just missing out as finalists last year, ERA are delighted to be on the shortlist again for the 2015 HSBC Franchisor of The Year Award, presented by the British Franchise Association (bfa).
This exciting news comes after more success at the Franchise Marketing Awards earlier this year, where ERA won for the Best Overall Marketing Campaign.
With the bfa judging panel seeking businesses with a commitment to ethical franchising, who provide a supportive environment in which franchise owners can succeed – ERA are proud to be named on the list of finalists for two years in a row, and hope to go one better this time in securing the award.
Now in their 26th year, the bfa Franchisor of The Year Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the UK franchise industry, with multiple benefits for winners – not least in building brand recognition and resultant new business for the whole network.
With buzz about the news spreading through the ERA family, the Head Office team are thrilled that the repeat nomination reflects their on-going work to build a supportive, profitable business opportunity that really pays off for ERA members.
“We are absolutely delighted to make the shortlist for the bfa Franchisor of The Year Awards for a second year in a row,” said Paul Lewis, ERA’s Head of Operations. “It’s a huge honour to be included again and is a great reflection of all the hard work done by both the Head Office team and all our franchise owners during the last twelve months.”
With award winning success earlier in the year still fresh in the memory, the feeling at ERA is that it would be great to go all the way this time round.
“Of course we’re excited to have even made the final shortlist,” said Paul, “however it would be fantastic if we could take it just one step further this year and come home with the main award. The resulting boost to the whole network would be incredible.”
As highlighted by our skilled and enthusiastic new starters, there’s never been a better time to choose the proven ERA franchise model.We know with the experience of growing our network that the Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) business model has always appealed to highly qualified, uniquely skilled professionals from a range of backgrounds. Never the less, we are always delighted when new members choose ERA as a vehicle to build their future. July 2015 has seen a bumper crop of talented new starters – and the whole ERA family is thrilled to welcome Richard Placito, Karnjit Cooner, Andrew Lee, Keith McGregor, Steve Stiles and Colum Honan – who have just finished their initial training. With our 6 latest recruits now putting what they’ve learnt into practice, we caught up with some of them to discover why they chose ERA and what they’ve got out of the initial training process. “The induction and training was very thorough, detailed and intensive, but I’ve had a lot of support from the ERA start-up team,” says Richard Placito, the former MD of various technology firms and UK MD of a large US corporate – who’s always wanted to run his own business. “I’ve already attended my first academy meeting, and have talked to lots of existing members who have been most helpful.” Andrew Lee, the former senior level MD of a large printing company, concurs: “From the start, the ERA model ticked a lot of boxes for me. The training has been very in-depth and there’s a lot to learn - but it gives you a good foundation to actually go out and do it. I’ve just been to my first client meeting and have a second already arranged. For me, it’s all about delivering value to the customer by trading on ERA’s good name and the experience of the high calibre people within the network.” Former Finance Director Keith McGregor is equally effusive about his experience so far with ERA. “After a period as a self-employed consultant I went along to the franchise show with a few companies in mind, and after meeting various people on the ERA team, decided they seemed like the best fit,” he says. “The training has been brilliant. It’s very intensive and well structured, but really tailored to what you need on a 1 on 1 basis. The group learning aspect was also great, as everyone’s questions really covered all the bases.” And despite having existing cost reduction experience from her role as a procurement consultant, new starter Karnjit Cooner says she still got a great deal from the initial training. “It’s been very useful in finding out the ERA way of working and the systems they’re using, which is valuable for me as it was the business model and wider network support that first attracted my interest – that and the opportunity to work more flexibly.”
As highlighted by our skilled and enthusiastic new starters, there’s never been a better time to choose the proven ERA franchise model.We know with the experience of growing our network that the Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) business model has always appealed to highly qualified, uniquely skilled professionals from a range of backgrounds. Never the less, we are always delighted when new members choose ERA as a vehicle to build their future.
July 2015 has seen a bumper crop of talented new starters – and the whole ERA family is thrilled to welcome Richard Placito, Karnjit Cooner, Andrew Lee, Keith McGregor, Steve Stiles and Colum Honan – who have just finished their initial training.
With our 6 latest recruits now putting what they’ve learnt into practice, we caught up with some of them to discover why they chose ERA and what they’ve got out of the initial training process.
“The induction and training was very thorough, detailed and intensive, but I’ve had a lot of support from the ERA start-up team,” says Richard Placito, the former MD of various technology firms and UK MD of a large US corporate – who’s always wanted to run his own business. “I’ve already attended my first academy meeting, and have talked to lots of existing members who have been most helpful.”
Andrew Lee, the former senior level MD of a large printing company, concurs: “From the start, the ERA model ticked a lot of boxes for me. The training has been very in-depth and there’s a lot to learn - but it gives you a good foundation to actually go out and do it. I’ve just been to my first client meeting and have a second already arranged. For me, it’s all about delivering value to the customer by trading on ERA’s good name and the experience of the high calibre people within the network.”
Former Finance Director Keith McGregor is equally effusive about his experience so far with ERA. “After a period as a self-employed consultant I went along to the franchise show with a few companies in mind, and after meeting various people on the ERA team, decided they seemed like the best fit,” he says. “The training has been brilliant. It’s very intensive and well structured, but really tailored to what you need on a 1 on 1 basis. The group learning aspect was also great, as everyone’s questions really covered all the bases.”
And despite having existing cost reduction experience from her role as a procurement consultant, new starter Karnjit Cooner says she still got a great deal from the initial training. “It’s been very useful in finding out the ERA way of working and the systems they’re using, which is valuable for me as it was the business model and wider network support that first attracted my interest – that and the opportunity to work more flexibly.”
“We did it!” was the jubilant cry from the heroic Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) team who completed the gruelling ‘Ride The Regions’ cycle adventure from Edinburgh to Southampton – in only six days. Organised in aid of the Ben Gannon Appeal, son of ERA franchise partner Lorraine Gannon, the intrepid journey started on the 10th July in Edinburgh, and ended in Southampton on 16th – with a core group of riders accompanied by a support van, food stations and many other ERA consultants who rode various legs of the journey. As well as aiming to raise funds for an important cause, over £7,500 has been donated so far, the event gave ERA members the opportunity to attend regional meetings at each stopover, in Manchester, Birmingham, Bedford and Slough – meaning the entire UK network touched base at some point throughout the week. Making such connections is essential in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with consultants across the network for future projects together – and for making new friends within the ERA family. Key statistics for the ride show what an incredible achievement it was, with the team cycling a total of 546 miles and each spending just over 39 hours in the saddle. With an average speed of around 14 mph, and a top speed of nearly 40 – it’s also easy to see how the team as a whole burnt around 32,660 calories. However, the great cause they were riding for more than compensated for those painful legs at the finish line. 10-year-old Ben suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy – a condition that affects all his limbs - and as a result is confined to a wheelchair. Growing fast, he requires a mobility walker and walking frame that must be constantly updated to support his muscle growth, plus regular physio sessions and expensive specialist glasses. So all the money raised will be life changing. “A big thank you to all those who have donated,” says Ben’s mum Lorraine – who also took part in the ride. “This has been a truly amazing effort by everyone involved and we’re extremely grateful for your support.” “There’s a real sense of achievement at what we’ve accomplished,” says ERA Head of Operations Paul Lewis, who organised the event. “We’ve raised a lot of money for a great cause, and successfully bought together the whole ERA network in the process. I’d like to offer my congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part or supported us.”
“We did it!” was the jubilant cry from the heroic Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) team who completed the gruelling ‘Ride The Regions’ cycle adventure from Edinburgh to Southampton – in only six days.
Organised in aid of the Ben Gannon Appeal, son of ERA franchise partner Lorraine Gannon, the intrepid journey started on the 10th July in Edinburgh, and ended in Southampton on 16th – with a core group of riders accompanied by a support van, food stations and many other ERA consultants who rode various legs of the journey.
As well as aiming to raise funds for an important cause, over £7,500 has been donated so far, the event gave ERA members the opportunity to attend regional meetings at each stopover, in Manchester, Birmingham, Bedford and Slough – meaning the entire UK network touched base at some point throughout the week. Making such connections is essential in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with consultants across the network for future projects together – and for making new friends within the ERA family.
Key statistics for the ride show what an incredible achievement it was, with the team cycling a total of 546 miles and each spending just over 39 hours in the saddle. With an average speed of around 14 mph, and a top speed of nearly 40 – it’s also easy to see how the team as a whole burnt around 32,660 calories. However, the great cause they were riding for more than compensated for those painful legs at the finish line.
10-year-old Ben suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy – a condition that affects all his limbs - and as a result is confined to a wheelchair. Growing fast, he requires a mobility walker and walking frame that must be constantly updated to support his muscle growth, plus regular physio sessions and expensive specialist glasses. So all the money raised will be life changing. “A big thank you to all those who have donated,” says Ben’s mum Lorraine – who also took part in the ride. “This has been a truly amazing effort by everyone involved and we’re extremely grateful for your support.”
“There’s a real sense of achievement at what we’ve accomplished,” says ERA Head of Operations Paul Lewis, who organised the event. “We’ve raised a lot of money for a great cause, and successfully bought together the whole ERA network in the process. I’d like to offer my congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part or supported us.”
In over two decades working as a print service professional with the likes of Xerox, Xeretec and Kinolta – Andy Kinnear encountered his fair share of managers. “In 20 years I didn’t really have any outstandingly inspiring bosses, and always wanted to be my own boss,” says Andy, who then joined the ERA network in 2013. After what Andy himself describes as a ‘predictably slow burning’ start to his ERA consultancy, he worked hard to build up a strong pipeline of business and network connections, increasingly leveraging his in-depth knowledge of the print sector to work on projects with other ERA consultants. Fast forward just two years and Andy’s self-belief and specialist experience have definitely paid dividends. Not only has he launched a thriving ERA consultancy, but also recently won the ‘New Consultant of The Year 2015’ award and was a finalist in no fewer than three categories at the ERA conference. “The whole event was fun and highly beneficial,” says Andy. “The keynote speaker, Sally Gunnell, was inspiring and entertaining and easily related her message to our industry and network.” Despite his success, Andy is keen to point out that it’s the ERA network as a whole that has supported the growth of his business. “Recognition is always nice to receive but is not an end in itself,” he says. “Networking in any environment is based on trust and confidence that the other party can deliver what they say, so being projected in front of the whole network as a successful new consultant, someone who is already being brought in on other ERA projects, has definitely led to more enquiries.” And when Andy’s not networking and building his business, he loves nothing more than going cycling – and was part of ERA’s ‘Race The Sun’ charity event and a London to Paris bike ride in 2014. This year also saw him join the ‘Ride The Regions’ team who rode from Edinburgh to Southampton visiting each of the ERA regional meetings on their journey. “It was a great personal experience,” says Andy, “a really worthwhile cause and an opportunity to build closer relationships with other consultants.” And what of the future for this award-winning franchisee? “I have stayed ahead of my targets and am now looking to move forward strongly in the next couple of years,” says Andy, “perhaps bringing in some admin support to free up more time for genuine consultancy and project work. I want to ethically help clients with their businesses and meet my own personal goals.” Ultimately, Andy has a longer-term plan to buy a place in France - and split his time between there and the UK - as a lot of his project work can be done anywhere. He’ll certainly find they share his love of cycling, and says he’s polishing up on his French already!
In over two decades working as a print service professional with the likes of Xerox, Xeretec and Kinolta – Andy Kinnear encountered his fair share of managers. “In 20 years I didn’t really have any outstandingly inspiring bosses, and always wanted to be my own boss,” says Andy, who then joined the ERA network in 2013.
After what Andy himself describes as a ‘predictably slow burning’ start to his ERA consultancy, he worked hard to build up a strong pipeline of business and network connections, increasingly leveraging his in-depth knowledge of the print sector to work on projects with other ERA consultants.
Fast forward just two years and Andy’s self-belief and specialist experience have definitely paid dividends. Not only has he launched a thriving ERA consultancy, but also recently won the ‘New Consultant of The Year 2015’ award and was a finalist in no fewer than three categories at the ERA conference. “The whole event was fun and highly beneficial,” says Andy. “The keynote speaker, Sally Gunnell, was inspiring and entertaining and easily related her message to our industry and network.”
Despite his success, Andy is keen to point out that it’s the ERA network as a whole that has supported the growth of his business. “Recognition is always nice to receive but is not an end in itself,” he says. “Networking in any environment is based on trust and confidence that the other party can deliver what they say, so being projected in front of the whole network as a successful new consultant, someone who is already being brought in on other ERA projects, has definitely led to more enquiries.”
And when Andy’s not networking and building his business, he loves nothing more than going cycling – and was part of ERA’s ‘Race The Sun’ charity event and a London to Paris bike ride in 2014. This year also saw him join the ‘Ride The Regions’ team who rode from Edinburgh to Southampton visiting each of the ERA regional meetings on their journey. “It was a great personal experience,” says Andy, “a really worthwhile cause and an opportunity to build closer relationships with other consultants.”
And what of the future for this award-winning franchisee? “I have stayed ahead of my targets and am now looking to move forward strongly in the next couple of years,” says Andy, “perhaps bringing in some admin support to free up more time for genuine consultancy and project work. I want to ethically help clients with their businesses and meet my own personal goals.”
Ultimately, Andy has a longer-term plan to buy a place in France - and split his time between there and the UK - as a lot of his project work can be done anywhere. He’ll certainly find they share his love of cycling, and says he’s polishing up on his French already!
