Office and IT training franchise opportunity

Pitman: as relevant today as it was in 1839

BusinessesForSale: What makes Pitman Training an attractive franchise?

David Shimwell: Any successful franchise usually has a strong brand attached to it [for example a Jani-King cleaning franchise] and with Pitman training you get the benefit of a strong brand.

Also, any franchise that has the number of locations that we do – 100 – has also had the experience to adjust the business model to be more successful. So in summary, it’s a strong brand and a proven business franchise model.

Any franchise that has the number of locations has also had the experience to adjust the business model to be more successful

BFS: How long has the brand been around for?

DS: If you take it to its literal beginnings you’re actually going all the way back to 1839 – 169 years.

We’re not exactly the same company but effectively, if you were doing a ‘Who do you think you are?’ Pitman training would go back to 1839.

BFS: And how did it start out?

DS: It started off with shorthand. As soon as you mention Pitman to anybody, the people that the brand means something to would think of shorthand.

BFS: When was it first franchised?

DS: 15 years ago.

BFS: What does the franchisee get for their money?

DS: Access to our brand, marketing, sales technique – effectively our business system. We will train them on that system and support them on it, so they can go off and run a flexible learning, IT business and commerce training centre.

BFS: What sets it apart from similar franchises?

DS: There are a number of what I would call good franchises out there, and it’s a bit like saying what sets you apart from various restaurants – it depends what food you like and what you want.

But I think it’s down to that proven business system, which has been adapted over the years, and its support.

BFS: How much can they expect to make in a normal working week?

DS: I would say that is all dependent on their determination.

BFS: How many hours will a franchisee typically need to work?

DS: Anybody setting up what I would call a ‘business’, rather than a ‘job’ franchise, you’re going to be looking at 50 hours plus a week for the first year to 18 months.

BFS: Do franchisees tend to work evenings or weekends?

DS: Most of our locations are open a couple of nights a week and Saturday mornings.

Once they’ve got the business up to a certain level and they’re employing staff, then they might not have to work all those hours.

BFS: What would you look for in a franchisee?

DS: In approach and attitude you want someone who is fairly driven to be successful and competitive.

In ability we are looking for someone, because we have a premium product that comes with a relevant price tag, with sales ability.

Because the staff are an integral part of the business you also need to be able to manage and motivate staff.

BFS: Is any industry-specific experience required?

DS: They don’t need it.

I would almost say that to some extent you’d be better off not having that experience, because people that come from a training background are usually not very sales-orientated. It’s about selling.

BFS: How strictly do franchisees have to adhere to the Pitman Training franchise model?

DS: We have brand guidelines including how the product is delivered. We give them the freedom to be as entrepreneurial as they wish in their marketing and management. I always say you can have as much freedom as you want as long as you’re successful, but we have a business system that works so we try and keep people focused on that.