Women in Franchising (WIF), an initiative of the Franchise Council of Australia, and Westpac have partnered together to provide more education on business matters for women in the franchising industry.

WIF Committee Chair Kate Johnson said the FCAÕs research findings were the main reason behind the decision to form the partnership.

“Through research the FCA has found that people in franchising, and especially women in the industry, are looking for more business advice and education opportunities,” she said. “In fact the FCAÕs most recent survey was administered to 2,995 current individual members of the FCA and of those that responded 42.2 per cent wanted franchising advice, 33.8 per cent wanted webinars, 54.7 per cent wanted an online library and 50.3 per cent wanted more networking events as value-added benefits.

“Also, respondents indicated the education courses and seminar topics of most interest to them were Strategic Management (60.8 per cent), Leadership (53.4 per cent), Financial Management (50.7 per cent) and Marketing (49.3 per cent).

“WestpacÕs involvement with franchisees and franchisors in terms of lending, and also their focus on women in business through their WomenÕs Markets, made them a natural fit with our goals and objectives to empower women in franchising.”

Johnson said the organisationÕs partnership with Westpac had allowed WIF to begin to meet the need women in franchising had identified for more business education workshops and events.

“In June we ran High Tea events in each state, for women in the industry, which had networking and also an educational component on superannuation. We have a number of other educational and networking events planned for the remainder of the year which Westpac is sponsoring.”

For more information about upcoming Women in Franchising / Westpac events visit www.womeninfranchising.org.au or www.therubyconnection.com.au.

Men are welcome at all events.