The Franchise Council of Australia is taking steps to include franchisees in its organisation and is to set up a Franchisee Policy Advisory Committee.

This 12-member strong group will provide input and feedback on policy and sector issues directly to the FCA CEO, Mary Aldred.

The FCA franchisee committee

The goal is for franchisees to represent a range of sectors, business sizes, metropolitan and regional areas, and single and multi-unit operators. There will be a limit of one person per brand on the FCA franchisee committee.

The FCA wants experienced and credible franchisees to sit for the two year terms.

The new advisory group will meet at least quarterly via teleconference to allow franchisees in every Australian state to participate.

FCA franchisee committee members may be able to join in meetings with government, regulatory and other stakeholder bodies, the FCA suggests.

The FCA is encouraging franchisors to spread the word in their networks. Franchisees interested in the role need to get in contact with the FCA before COB Monday 11 March 2019.

The announcement comes just a week before the expected and long-awaited release of the findings from the parliamentary inquiry into the effectiveness of the Franchising Code of Conduct.