New programme aims to select the very best franchisees and give them the complete support and training needed to succeed.

Dream Doors , the UK's largest kitchen makeover franchise, has launched a comprehensive new recruitment and training programme for franchisees, supported by more in-territory support and a new bespoke training centre that replicates an actual Dream Doors showroom.

All potential Dream Doors franchisees will now undergo the Extended DiSC personal assessment, used by 70% of Fortune 500 to improve work productivity, teamwork, and communication, and will also take the Devine Inventory skill assessment, which helps companies find the right candidate.

Dream Doors recently appointed franchise industry strategist Bill Owen as its Director of Franchising, and he has devised and implemented the new programme based on his extensive experience building franchise networks:

“I’ve seen throughout my career the importance of recruiting the right people and then providing the training and support they need to succeed, and we have totally overhauled our recruitment process and training programme to reflect that,” he said.

“The cost of getting the wrong franchisee can be anything up to £20,000, so we have put in place the systems to prevent that happening. Above all, we want people with drive, determination and ambition – kitchen experience is not necessary or even required. But given that our average annual franchisee turnover is £500,000, we want people that aren’t afraid of hard work.”

Once franchisees have been selected, they will undertake one of the most comprehensive training programmes offered by a franchisor in the UK. It will begin with a four week initial training period that will cover business set-up, supplier visits, IT training and the company van options. Franchisees will then spend two weeks at Dream Doors HQ. This phase will include a thorough introduction to kitchen industry suppliers, product training, CRM, book-keeping, advertising and marketing, before undergoing a comprehensive sales training programme. The last phase of the 12 week programme will focus on everything outstanding, including design skills, and accessories training in build up to a successful showroom launch.

New franchisees will have their HQ training at a new bespoke training centre that replicates a Dream Doors showroom and will receive frequent and focused visits when up and running from Dream Doors newly expanded support team.

“Our new training programme covers everything a franchisee could ever need,” said Bill Owen, Director of Franchising, Dream Doors. “We wanted to make the training as realistic as possible, so much of the sales work will take place in our new training centre. A kitchen makeover is very a soft sell and it is vital for our candidates to understand the nuances and approaches which that entails. 2015 has been a wonderful year for Dream Doors, and now we are better placed to recruit and train the best franchisees, 2016 is going to look even brighter.”

Dream Doors recently opened its 60 ^th showroom, and since its launch in 1999, has seen year-on-year growth. Dream Doors has won a number of industry awards in 2015, becoming an 8-time award winner in the Franchise Marketing Awards (FMAs), and also winning the ‘Franchise Recruitment’ award in the 2015 bfa (British Franchise Association) HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards.