Australian Franchise Awards – 2018 Results

The Franchise Council of Australia honoured the best and brightest across the Tasman at the MYOB FCA Excellence in Franchising Awards in Melbourne.

The nation-wide handyman business, Hire A Hubby, has been named as Australian Established Franchisor of the Year and Hire A Hubby franchisees have taken out two of the 2018 franchisee awards.

The title of Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year went to Jim Kelly and Crystal Petzer, co-owners of Hire A Hubby Narrabeen and Mona Vale, NSW. Speaking at the awards presentation, Jim Kelly said, ‘We've got a great franchisor and a great brand and we go out every day with passion to do what we love doing.’

Fellow Hire A Hubby franchisee Russell Hampton from Bayview, Cairns won Single Unit Franchisee of the Year (two or more staff).

Hire A Hubby's closest competition for the award were finalists Battery World, Mister Minit, MBCM Strata Specialists, The Coffee Club and The Leather Doctor.

It should be noted that Hire A Hubby Australia is not the same business as Hire-A-Hubby in New Zealand, which is a sister company to Green Acres under the Franchised Businesses Ltd umbrella.

Other Results

Australian Emerging Franchisor of the Year: Laser Clinics Australia.

Single Unit Franchisee, less than two staff: Glen Camiade of EFM Health Clubs, Ferntree Gully.

International Franchisor of the Year: Anytime Fitness

Excellence in International Franchising: Boost Juice

Excellence in Franchise Innovation: Boost Juice

Franchisor Social Responsibility: Poolwerx

Field Manager of the Year: Stephen Halls, Poolwerx

Excellence in Marketing: Inspirations Paints

Franchise Woman of the Year: Kate Thomson, ANZ Mobile Lending

Franchisee Community Responsibility and Contribution: Bendigo Bank, North Perth

Supplier of the Year: HR Central

Optimism for the future

Congratulating all entrants, finalists and winners, FCA CEO Mary Aldred said the awards process was arduous. Entrants were asked to outline their road to success and to reflect in detail on their business goals and the pathway, actions and initiatives that they had taken to achieve them.

Mary said the talent, creativity and success recognised through the 2018 MYOB FCA Excellence in Franchising Awards showcases was good reason to be optimistic about the future of franchising in Australia.

At the same event, a former chair of the FCA, Michael Paul (the founder of Pack & Send) was inducted into the Australian Franchising Hall of Fame for his long-term contribution to franchising in Australia. Long-established Auckland lawyer Stewart Germann was also honoured for his 30 years of contributions to franchising at the FCA legal symposium. 

The Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards winners will be announced on 10 November.