Pool industry scores at the Franchise Council of Australia Awards

Three pool industry players featured highly at the recent Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) awards, with Poolwerx winning the Franchisor of the Year, Jump! Swim Schools winning the Emerging Franchisor of the Year, and Clark Rubber (Narre Warren and Moorabbin) winning the Victorian Multi-Unit Franchisee award.

On the back of the win, Poolwerx CEO and Founder, John O’Brien, says the franchise has capacity for at least another 250 stores.

“We hit 100 stores this year but there is still so much opportunity around the country for our business,” O’Brien says. “With the level of growth obtainable to us right now we anticipate to reach 350 stores and 1000 vans by 2025.

“Being named the best franchise in the country is an amazing accolade and excellent credibility for the brand but what excites me most is knowing there are still hundreds of people we can help achieve a greater level of success in their lives through the experience of running their own small business.”

Poolwerx previously won the Franchise of the Year award in 2004.

This year, Poolwerx also claimed the Field Manager of the Year title through business development manager Stephen Halls from Queensland, and Cheryl Catalono of Clark Rubber SA won the South Australian Field Manager award.

Jump! Swim Schools

Queensland-based multinational company Jump! Swim Schools was founded by managing director Ian Campbell, who is a finalist in The CEO Magazine’s 2016 Executive of the Year Awards.

Campbell says it has been an exciting year. “We will soon be opening swim schools in Singapore, Brazil and the Philippines. Jump!’s international presence was motivated by reputation, demand and a simple and financially secure business model,” he says.

“But it is the increase in participation levels, water skills, confidence and enjoyment of our water lifestyle that is the measure of our success.”

Jump! Swim Schools was also a national finalist in the Franchise Innovation category.