Join one of the UK’s top adult training and educational franchises
Become a franchise partner and transform the lives of people in your local area.
Become a franchise partner and transform the lives of people in your local area.
Joining Pitman was the perfect opportunity for me to help improve people’s career prospects, gain promotions or help them get back into work. One thing I’ve found about being a franchise partner with Pitman is that you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself. There’s a level of comfort that you get because other people are involved in the same project. It’s a real team effort and you’ll never feel alone.
Why Pitman?
For 187 years, Pitman Training has enjoyed an unrivalled reputation as an elite training provider and with centres offering over 250 courses, it is clear to see why our franchise network is growing. Since Sir Isaac Pitman created Pitman Shorthand, we have become synonymous with high-quality, modern training courses and diplomas across a variety of subjects and industries. As a business, Pitman has become an education-technology specialist focused on helping people find work or achieve greater success in their careers.
- Territories available across the UK and Ireland
- Area Developer (multi-unit) opportunities available
- Current network of 65+ Pitman Training Centres
- Revenue of £120-200k in year one
- Average revenue of £500k per annum
- Dedicated franchisee support
- National marketing strategy to deliver warm enquiries straight to you
- Multiple income streams
- National British Heritage Brand
- No Training experience required – we do it for you
Franchise partners and their Course Advisors have access to over 250 accredited courses and diplomas, covering multiple industries, that can be sold to students of different ages, and in different stages of their careers. Whilst the students complete their courses online and in their own time, each physical Pitman Training Centre acts as a safe environment for students to study if they want to*, and the Learning Coaches in each centre will support each student through their studies. The exam rooms in each centre generate c. £70k per annum.
As a Pitman franchise partner, you will run an impactful business that can generate six-figure revenues per centre, with high profit margins.
Pitman’s course completion rate is 86%, above that of the average UK university completion rate.
“Because Pitman is so well-established, I’ve been able to help far more people than I ever could’ve dreamed of when I was working freelance. Head office provides us with sophisticated business management systems and marketing support. They’re also always looking to develop the products we use to make sure there are various innovative ways for students to learn. Being a Pitman franchise partner allows me to provide a level of service I just couldn’t have done if I’d remained freelance.”
Training and Support
Training is at the very core of our business, so the support and training we offer you plays a crucial part from the very beginning of your franchising journey and throughout your time with us.
At the start of your franchising journey, we will provide one-week of dedicated training at our head office with contributions from each department in the business, plus time in one of our corporately owned centres. You will then get on-the-job training within your premises and world-class training on our virtual learning environment – My Pitman. During this training, you will learn the Pitman Way - a focal point for ongoing training. You are also given support in all areas of the business from operations through to sales. You also have unlimited access to our portfolio of hundreds of training programmes to boost your skills.
Our dedicated back office support teams ensure your business runs smoothly throughout your term as a Pitman Franchise partner. Expect marketing support, including digital specialists and graphic designers, IT support; including access to our exclusive software systems and Operational support, where you have a dedicated franchise relationship manager to aid full operations of your centre.
Rewards and more
We constantly innovate and invest in our model to keep franchise partners at the forefront of the training market.
- Leverage multiple income streams
- Build a multi-unit empire
- Become a part of a network of likeminded professionals
- Over 150 years of business and franchise expertise at your disposal
- Wraparound support throughout your franchise lifecycle
- Channel your energy into empowering others and enriching lives
With our scalable, multi-unit management franchise opportunity, the sky really is the limit. As a guide, we would anticipate that a good quality partner should be turning over between £120,000 – £200,000 in year one with a single location.
Find out more
Are you passionate about transforming lives? Are you ready to transform your own? Then a Pitman Training Franchise could be the opportunity for you.
PLEASE SUBMIT OUR REQUEST FORM BELOW TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS AND LEARN MORE!
Three top tips to achieve multi-unit ownership from those in the know
With data showing that around 97% of franchisees have reported turning a profit for more than 20 years consecutively1, becoming a franchisee is an attractive prospect. We hear from three franchisees, at different stages in their multi-unit ownership journey. They share their tips for multi-unit ownership, for anyone considering their first steps in franchising or those looking to expand their current business portfolio.
1. Strength in numbers
Owning a large multi-unit portfolio, including eight Pitman Training territories, Chris Wyle focuses on the importance of building a strong team. “Working to the premise that the speed of the leader determines the pace of the pack, team members who excel show others what is possible and encourage them to strive for more. In doing so, this raises productivity and standards of work. When the team consistently delivers excellent results and provides exceptional service, it enhances the business' reputation and builds trust with students and prospective students – our customers.
“As an education provider, a team that is committed to providing excellent customer service is essential. Satisfied students are more likely to become repeat customers and recommend our service to others. A team that is well trained, motivated and student-focused plays a significant role in building loyalty.
“What’s more, a capable and reliable team means you can delegate tasks and responsibilities - it frees up time for you as a leader to focus on strategic initiatives and high-level decision making. As successful businesses constantly evolve, strong and adaptable teams ensure you can remain competitive. A strong team is more likely to embrace change and adapt to new technologies, market trends and customer preferences.”
2. Prioritise customers and community
Opening multiple Pitman Training centres in Ireland, Tomás Finneran emphasises the importance of realising the lead time for your business launch. “While the initial investment for equipment, staff and marketing is a key consideration, it can take between 6-12 months or more to be fully operational and to begin building up a good reputation. It’s crucial you are prepared for an increasing footfall and enquiry levels as you establish your business. While it may be tempting to do a soft launch, Tomás suggests opening when all systems, processes and staff are burning on all cylinders. Word of mouth is a huge factor in business success, so ensuring you are offering an exceptional customer experience, with all services open and operational, gives you the best chance of a positive recommendation.
“Investing in a franchise means you can benefit from a well-established and recognised brand, but the importance of local marketing must not be underestimated. Understanding your target market, leveraging local advertising opportunities and actively engaging with our prospective students are essential activities. Local marketing efforts, when executed successfully, can generate positive word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations. Satisfied customers – for us, our students - who have a positive experience with a local business are more likely to share their experiences with friends, family and colleagues within the local community. Recommendations are powerful and can significantly influence the decision making of potential new students for our business.”
3. Maintain and monitor
Having recently opened a second Pitman Training centre, Dip and Neil Khakhria are just at the start of their multi-unit journey but already emphasise the importance of making decisions based on strategy. “While it can be tempting to open an additional location when a first is doing well, monitoring financial performance closely ensures business decisions are data driven.”
After opening one training centre and realising its success, Dip and Neil waited approximately 18 months before opening a second centre. “Taking this time meant there was less risk attached to our expansion. By setting clear metrics and analysing data, you can assess the effectiveness of your strategies, initiatives, and investments. This allows for continuous improvement and course correction when necessary.
“Data analysis allowed us to identify patterns, trends and correlations within our operations and external factors. These insights helped identify opportunities, anticipate market changes, understand customer preferences and optimise business processes ahead of opening our second centre.”
Multi-unit franchising allows franchisees to grow their business more rapidly by opening multiple units. It offers an opportunity for expansion and scalability, allowing franchisees to tap into different markets and increase their revenue potential. With careful planning, management and a strong understanding of the specific franchise system, multi-unit ownership can significantly increase revenue potential compared to operating a single unit. With multiple revenue streams from different locations, franchisees have the opportunity to generate higher overall sales and profitability.
1The British Franchise Association (BFA) and NatWest survey
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