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Our Company
Manual Writers International is an award-winning, full-service independent publishing consultancy, which specialises in producing Operational Manuals in accordance with the Franchise Agreement. Each manual is tailor-made to a client's specific requirements to provide the means by which the Franchisor can impose uniformity and conformity across a developing Network. Manual Writers can handle all the elements necessary to publish your manual from scratch through pilot and final editions. We can: Act as Editor-in-Chief, thereby ensuring a consistent style. Update an existing manual. Act as consultant, helping you to produce your manual in-house. Be on hand for a set number of hours/days/weeks per month. Provide a quarterly, bi-annual or annual updating service. Train a member of staff to handle updates in-house. Established in 1987, Manual Writers was 1992 London Area Winner of the Parcelforce Regional Business Award designed to reward outstanding management quality. In that year, we also won the Kensington & Chelsea Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award. Manual Writers was shortlisted for the 1996 National Parcelforce Small Business Awards. Manual Writers is a British Franchise Association Affiliate.	HOME

Our Operational Manuals
Re-inforce the terms of the Franchise Agreement. Set and enable you to maintain quality standards. Impose conformity across the developing Network. Impose uniformity across the developing Network. Incorporate means for monitoring and control. Set benchmarks for continuous improvement. Each Operational Manual is designed to be used as: A training tool: for the Franchisor at Induction Training; or when operating at arm's length. for the Franchisee when training staff. A marketing tool. A sales development tool. Each Operational Manual is designed and produced to ensure that it is easy and cost-efficient to update.	HOME

Our Tailored Training Workshops
Level One: Developing a Strategy Towards Completion of Your Pilot Manual is a two-day Workshop aimed specifically at new franchisors, and those new to franchising, who don't know how or where to start. At the end of the first day, delegates will have gained a broad understanding of the principles of manual content, preparation and production. The second day focuses on the franchisor's specific requirements and is aimed at producing a strategy towards completion of the manual. Level Two: Recommendations, Solutions & Techniques for a More Professional Manual is an intensive two-day Workshop aimed at those who already have a broad appreciation of the importance of the Operational Manual but would like to produce a more professional manual. Here, the emphasis is on underpinning the Franchise Agreement, raising quality standards, achieving service excellence and ensuring uniformity and conformity across the Franchise Network. The franchisor receives an Appraisal of their current documentation and their delegate(s) learn how to apply the recommendations, solutions and techniques taught during the Workshop. This includes how to write procedures, viewpoint, basic editing and presentation skills. Each Workshop: • May be tailored to a franchisor's specific requirements. • Caters for a maximum of three attendees from one company at a time. • Is held at our Midlands Office. Penny Hopkinson, Proprietor of Manual Writers who has over 15 years' experience as a manual writer, runs both Workshops. Prior to launching Manual Writers, Penny spent 15 years as a trade and technical writer and editor	HOME

Our Clients
80:20 Financial Management Ltd Financial Management Resources A to Z of Motoring Driving Instruction Bang & Olufsen International State-of-the-Art Audio-Visual products British Franchise Association Trade Association Business Link Hertfordshire CREATE (e.learning) Workshop Franchisor/Franchisee Booklet Chadwick House Group Limited Food Safety Training & Certification Body Clarks International Footwear Davis Coleman Limited Banking & Legal Agents EquityLink™ Business Angel Network Hair on Broadway Hairdressing Services Hi-Q Goodyear Tyreservices Limited Automotive Replacement Parts & Services Mazorca Projects Ltd Hidden Art Social Enterprise Franchise supporting Designer-Makers Metro Rod Limited National Drain Care & Repair Northcliffe Retail Limited Northcliffe Partnership O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar Limited Sandwich Bars Octopustravel.com Online Booking Service for Hotels Prontaprlnt Group plc Business & General Printing Services Somerfield Stores Ltd Community Convenience Stores Tattoo Erase Ltd Removal of Tattoos Unigate Dairies Ltd Nationwide Dairies Ufi Ltd Learndirect Vision Express Joint Ventures Optical Store Chain Wagamama Japanese Noodle Canteens	HOME
Our Franchisee Profiling & Recruitment Documentation
RECRUITING FRANCHISEES – A SHARED COMMITMENT The franchisor/franchisee relationship is unique because: The franchisor is investing its reputation and future success in the franchisee. The franchisee is investing their future in the Company. Even though the franchisee might be prepared to invest their future in the Company, it does not automatically follow that they are the right or the best people to run a franchise. Why Develop a Franchisee Profile & Comprehensive Recruitment Processes? Provides the tools and techniques to enable you to identify those franchisees who are most likely to be successful in running a franchise. Gives the franchisee the best chance of making the right decision in whether to enter into a franchise relationship. Ensures fairness, consistency and equity of treatment. Eliminates future surprises – ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t understand Eliminates assumptions which could lead to future relationship difficulties – ‘I thought ........’ Identifies support/training needs. Identifies initial strengths/weaknesses which can be used in performance. management/development programmes. Acts as an ongoing reference document and enables you to review/adapt your processes as needed. Allows those not involved in the interview to appreciate the decision-making process. Begins the process of building the personal franchisor/franchisee relationship and understanding of how you will work together. Ensures your recruitment process aligns with other processes to meet critical target dates – eg. launch. Contact Penny Hopkinson on 01926 641 402 for further details.	HOME

Our Employment Documentation
EMPLOYMENT POLICY & PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE MANAGERS You have your own employment lawyer on site – or only a phone call away – who can point out the finer legal issues, latest case law, etc. relating to employment legislation. But how do you ensure compliance with the complex and varied requirements of employment legislation and implement your company’s individual contractual and non-contractual policies without overloading your people managers ? Failure to put in place and implement robust employment policies and procedures has resulted in substantial awards to employees at employment tribunals. To ensure compliance with legislation and make good people management easier, companies need to: Understand the legislative requirements in relation to managing people; Put in place sensible, workable employment policies and procedures; and Set up appropriate communication and support mechanisms. In partnership with Sheryll Webb + Associates, Manual Writers International is now offering a Process Mapping & Documentation Service to help small to medium-sized businesses keep up-to-date and develop clear, effective employment policies and procedures that are accessible to management, are appropriate for the workplace and support the organisational culture. Sheryll brings more than 10 years’ experience of working within a highly unionised blue chip company, where she developed employment polices and procedures, alongside communication processes, provided training, and one-to-one advice and support to managers and supervisors in their application. For more information, please call Penny Hopkinson on 01926 641402 or Sheryll Webb on 01926 640469	HOME

Our Helpful Articles
*Making Sure the Blueprint is Right* - (1.0Mb) - Franchise World *The Write Package* - (0.4 Mb) - The Role, Purpose & Inter-relationship of Documentation & Communication Tools in Franchising. Business Franchise *The Manual as a Benchmark for Quality* - (0.5Mb) - The manual is probably a good indication of the support given by the Franchisor. Franchise Link *Operating Manuals & TQM* - (0.5Mb) - Documenting Prontaprint's quality systems & updating the manual. Franchise Link	HOME

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