The Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) has recognised the best in franchising in Queensland and the Northern Territory at the FCA 2018 QLD/NT Excellence in Franchising Awards presentations in Brisbane on Thursday night.
Winners at the event included Dione Mauric of Finn Franchise Brokers, Sunshine Coast and North Queensland, who was named the QLD/NT Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year and Russell Hampton of Hire A Hubby, Bayview, who took home the award for QLD/NT Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff.
Pool and spa maintenance network, Poolwerx, also had a successful night, with Michelle Graham of Poolwerx, Ashgrove/Keperra, being named the QLD/NT Franchise Woman of the Year and Poolwerx Business Development Manager Stephen Halls winning the QLD/NT Field Manager of the Year Award for 2018.
Dione Mauric joined Finn Franchise Brokers as the network’s second franchisee and a decade later remains passionate and positive about the sector and its ability to help families achieve their small business goals.
For Michelle Graham, who has been a Poolwerx franchisee for 15 years, it’s the network’s systems and structure as well as a culture of inclusiveness that have helped to achieve her business goals.
“Franchising gives you a structure that I don’t think you would find in any normal business,” says Graham.
“And you’re not on your own. We’ve been with Poolwerx for a long time, and along the way we’ve had them for guidance and systems support, which has been massive for running our own business and achieving our goals.”
QLD/NT Field Manager of the Year for 2018, Stephen Halls, is another long-term franchising professional, having spent 17 years in the sector both as a franchisee and in senior franchise business development roles.
“It’s quite humbling to win this Award because obviously you don’t do jobs like this for the recognition. I’m passionate about franchising and I’ve been doing it for a long time,” says Stephen.
“In my role, it’s just nice to see people who just like me, many, many years ago have invested in their life and a dream. It’s also great to be able to showcase the Poolwerx brand, because if it wasn’t for the brand and the leadership and the great team, I probably wouldn’t have received the award.”
Following their success, all winners have qualified as finalists for the MYOB FCA National Excellence in Franchising Awards. The Gala Awards Dinner will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday 16 October at the culmination of the 2018 National Franchise Convention.
WINNERS
QLD/NT Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year
Dione Mauric, Finn Franchise Brokers, Sunshine Coast and North Queensland
QLD/NT Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff
Russell Hampton, Hire A Hubby, Bayview
QLD/NT Franchise Woman of the Year
Michelle Graham, Poolwerx, Ashgrove/Keperra
QLD/NT Field Manager of the Year
Stephen Halls, Poolwerx