Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) has boosted its academy training programme for new franchisees with the addition of extra courses on cost-saving categories. The aim is to kick-start new franchisees' businesses, allowing them to be up and running and earning money more quickly than previously.

The programme, which includes five weeks of courses and modules hosted at ERA’s group office in Southampton, will introduce new categories with the latest industry know-how, discuss supplier information and clarify sector-specific language.

Diane Lane, the ERA consultant of 15 years who leads the training, said: “This is particularly beneficial to new starters that don’t have a specific category specialism; learning about these additional categories allows new associates to successfully manage projects without having an extensive background in that industry. The skills they gain from managing these projects are transferable and can be used across various expenditure areas.”

Laura Harvey-Smith, business advisor & executive coach at ERA, adds: “We have decided to add this to the academy training programme to ensure that our new franchise partners become self-sufficient ever quicker, accelerating their earnings. These are common expenditure areas that organisations will face, providing the new franchisees with a great place to exercise the skills they will have learned during their training.”