VFA23 Meet The Sponsors – Azura Group MD Mark Scott

The Virtual Franchising Awards are back!

Join us at 1pm on January 31st, 2023

MEET THE SPONSORS AZURA GROUP

We’re delighted to have Azura Group sponsoring the Virtual Franchising Awards again for 2023. Azura providefully integrated, cloud-based CRM management software system specifically tailored for the franchising industry enabling franchisors and franchisees to manage their business more effectively, giving them more time to focus on the development of their products and services and as such, increase revenues.

Azura Group’s Mark Scott tells us a bit about the brand, himself and why Azura Group have chosen to sponsor the Virtual Franchising Awards for 2023.

1. Please tell me a bit about yourself. What is your role with AzuraGroup?

I am essentially a career banker. I worked for NatWest for 39 years, the last 23 within the franchise team, including heading it up. I took voluntary redundancy at the beginning of 2021 but given my experience and fondness of the franchise industry I wanted to remain involved but also have more control in the role I took on.

Simon Pullum, the founder of Azura and I had known each other for over 15 years and he wanted someone to come in and help him run the business, so I did just that in June 2021 and began as Operations Director. Shortly after I started, in November, the business was acquired by the AIM listed Franchise Brands plc. In May 2022 I became Managing Director and Simon became Chairman of the business. Essentially between Simon and I we now run the business but I look after the day to day running with Simon providing the guiding hand.

2. Who are Azura Group?

In short Azura is a software company, established in 1990 and specialising in developing Franchise Management Systems for franchisors across the whole industry from activity businesses, service businesses and fast food to domiciliary care.

The system manages the lifecycle of franchisees. We like to use the acronym ROME, which relates to Recruitment, Onboarding, Managing the franchisees/business operations and Exiting. We are part of Franchise Brands plc, an AIM listed business that owns 8 separate companies including the franchises Metro Rod, Filta Fry and Chipsaway.

3. Please tell me about why have you chosen to sponsor the Franchisor of the Year award for the Virtual Franchising Awards 2023?

I have chosen the Franchisor of the Year category as in my opinion it is one of the most important and high profile of the categories.

From a personal point of view I have been involved in helping franchisors at all stages of their life cycle, so it made perfect sense to be part of this award especially.

4. How does Azura Group support the franchising sector?

For our customers it is putting in place and adapting, as their business changes, systems that help them to manage their business better and more efficiently, whether that means recruiting franchisees, payment processes, booking systems, auditing systems, managing franchisees, ensuring franchisees follow processes and much more. More generally we attend many events both online and in person to provide guidance on any aspect of running a franchise given our experience but especially anything around franchise technologies and cyber security.

Within Franchise Brands we have over 500 years of franchise experience within the senior management of the 8 businesses alone and so we try to make a meaningful contribution to the growth of franchising. We are always keen to help any franchise at any stage of their development with practical advice as somewhere within the wider business there is someone that can help and not just with regard to the technology side of things

5. What does Azura Group hope to achieve within the franchising sectorin the next 5 years?

Like any business we want to grow our business –standing still is not an option for anyone. As part of an AIM listed business that aspiration is very much supported. We are already the longest established franchise management system in the UK and we wish to continue as the number one business for franchisors to approach for their franchise management system requirements. We have some International operations and with any growing business that is also something that I expect will take place over that time period.

6. What brands have you worked with in the past and how have you helped them to thrive?

We have worked with over 100 franchise brands from new franchisors setting up a system from the outset to the very established. Some of the brands we work for are Metro Rod, Driving Miss Daisy, Countrywide Signs, Monkey Music and Ovenu.

The main help we provide to any business is to simplify processes, reporting on how all aspects of the business is doing, not only through our system but by gathering information from others, such as POS, accounting, etc., save time, save resource and in turn save money but also improve the sales processes and thus reduce the time to a sale and improve profitability.

The reports we provide are customised to the business and are based on the key aspects of the franchise they wish to measure in order to know how to adapt and change the model to improve things further. Many of our clients have been with us for a long time, which clearly demonstrates the value in working together on the system to ensure it always remains fit for purpose. 7. What is your biggest tip for businesses looking to be successful?

A franchise is a system and a way of operating a business, so you need a technology solution to help you operate that to its optimum capacity

8. Tell us moreabout Mark Scott

I am married to Sue, we have 6 fantastic daughters, 3 cats (Skye, Daphne & Dave), a tortoise (Albert) and a leopard gecko (Venus). Outside of work we love to travel, see friends and spend time with our family. My hobbies are golf, badminton and ballroom dancing.

Mark Scott is Managing Director at Azura Group, who are sponsoring the Franchisor of the Year category at the Virtual Franchising Awards 2023

Interested in finding out more about how Azura Group can help your franchise network?

Get in touch with the Azura Group team today to learn more about the software solutions they can provide.