ADVERTORIAL
Reduce risk
Support your franchisees in the complex
world of employment law and, health
and safety, with Natwest Mentor
For small business owners, being part of Mentor can help. Graeme explains: “It’s
a successful franchise can be an excellent within the franchisor’s interest to provide
way to have instant brand awareness and access to top quality support, which is
credibility within the marketplace. where NatWest Mentor comes in. We
However, despite the support and provide support in employment law and
guidance available with a franchise, there health and safety to a number of leading
are certain issues franchisees must face franchise brands, such as O2, Venture and
alone, but a franchisor needs to be sure Subway.
that they ‘go it alone’ correctly.
“We support the franchisee with
As a franchisor, you will be aware that their responsibilities towards staff and
franchisees should always be following customers, freeing up time to help them
procedures when employing and concentrate on running their business.
managing staff, and providing a safe If they have the right documentation in
working environment. Failing to do so place, they can put all of their energy into
can lead to an employment tribunal, and implementing effi ciencies to maximise
with an annual increase of 43 per cent business success. This top quality support
in claims accepted by the Employment also ensures that the franchisor is
Tribunals Service in the year to March mitigating any risk to them.”
2008, this is a real possibility. Legally it is
the franchisee that is liable, although it
How you benefi t:
will be the franchisor’s brand name that is
ultimately damaged.
●
Save time and money with
robust employment policies
“A big risk for any franchisor is the
●
Reduce risks and keep staff
damage its brand can receive by the and customers safe with
actions of a single franchisee,” explains effective safety management
Graeme Jones, head of franchising policies
for NatWest business and commercial
●
Stay within the law and avoid
banking. “It takes a long time to get employment tribunals and
a reputable brand, so you don’t want health and safety prosecutions
negative issues arising that will put the
●
Save time to focus on core
brand at risk. While legally a franchisee is business activities
fully responsible for any problems, if there
●
Protect the business with an
is ever a particular issue with health and insurance service
safety or a breach of employment law, it’s
●
Avoid protracted legal
not just the franchisee that could be left disputes and negative publicity
to pick up the pieces.”
Like any small business owner, franchisees
have to take full responsibility for
health and safety, and employment
law regulations, says Graeme. Without
the right support, it can be a complex
and time-consuming process. While
To fi nd out more:
some franchisors do provide specifi c Call 0800 634 7005 (Minicom on
employment law and, health and safety 0800 634 7008) or visit
support to its franchisees the level and www.natwestmentor.co.uk
quality varies. That’s where NatWest
26 | www.franchisornews.co.uk
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