The PoolWerx franchise training staff

The PoolWerx franchise has decided not to float around skills shortages affecting the industry.

The pool franchise has upgraded its franchisee training program to give graduates a nationally accredited certificate-level qualification.

With plans to add 42 new outlets on the way to its goal of 300, the pool maintenance franchise has started its own registered training organisation after finding it could not get staff with the right skills for its expansion plans.

“As our franchisees put on more staff with the current tightening of the employment market, they have found it harder to get good staff,” PoolWerx franchise CEO John O’Brien said.

The pool franchise course covers the A to Z of running a mobile pool and spa business and is the first for the $1bn industry.

Mr O’Brien said pool maintenance franchise partners were interested in getting staff on a career path to show students working after school they could stay in the industry all the way to being a store manager.

The PoolWerx franchise has spent the past two years getting the training program to RTO status at a cost of around $20,000 including internal staff and consultant costs.

“Today you’ve got to angle at getting the best people you can possibly get and people are interested in good training and staff development,” Mr O’Brien said.

The first group of 24 students, drawn from existing and new franchisees and staff, graduated last month with another 200 to go through the course in the next 12 months.