B2B franchises are helping businesses pull through the pandemic

Expense Reduction Analysts has been part of a powerful movement of consultancy-based and B2B franchises helping businesses cope with the challenges of the last 18 months

Both the global pandemic and Brexit have cast large shadows over the worldwide business community, however Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), has been part of a powerful movement of consultancy-based and B2B franchises helping businesses cope with the challenges of the last 18 months.

The end of furlough in September hails a significant deadline for businesses that have needed support during the pandemic. Although economic forecasting for the UK economy is positive, recent government statistics still point to businesses’ continued reliance on the support the government has supplied throughout the pandemic. A GOV UK review from June suggests that 1.9 million jobs remained on partial or full furlough at the time. As furlough ends and the government’s Bounce Back Loans become due for repayment, companies are looking for savvy ways to manage their budgets and streamline operations to avoid large-scale job losses. Recent ONS data backs this up, with 53 per cent of companies still reporting that their turnover is being impacted by the pandemic. Fundamentally, companies that have relied on government funding to survive during the pandemic will have to explore new avenues to protect their business and their workforce.

Many businesses haven’t waited until now to protect themselves though and have been turning to consultancy and B2B experts at well-known franchises like ERA. Sectors such as automotive, hospitality, manufacturing and education all struggled significantly with some being impacted by lockdowns whilst others experienced an increase in demand that they found difficult to fulfil. Business coaching franchises have been offering gifted coaching sessions to business owners, resulting in some companies having their best trading months ever during the pandemic. App and website development franchises quickly reacted to offer e-commerce platforms for businesses to trade online. Digital marketing franchises were then able to step in to boost the number of customers visiting those online platforms to increase sales that may have only previously converted in a face-to-face environment. Consultancy franchises were also called upon to drive efficiencies - delivering recommendations and implementation of suppliers that companies may not have engaged with before.

Wycliffe College, a prestigious independent school founded in 1882, turned to ERA to create meaningful and long-lasting savings resulting in a 22 per cent reduction in energy costs. Tom Wood, director of finance and operations at Wycliffe College, said: “Despite their name, the benefits that ERA bring to the business are far more than ‘expense reduction’. It’s much more about improving value and service from suppliers and ensuring transparency and accountability. Their involvement has helped Wycliffe to rationalise and consolidate our supply chain, thereby strengthening relationships with our core trading partners. It has also allowed us to focus on supporting local businesses and reduce the impact our activities have on the environment.”

Jonathan Jackson, ERA franchise partner, explains what it’s been like supporting clients over the last 18 months: “Many people think of us as consultants who just look at systems and suppliers to save a business money but the work I do with my clients is more wide-reaching than that. It gives me so much satisfaction to make a difference to the people who are part of those businesses. My services have been pivotal to the stability of the companies I have worked with during this uncertain time. The continued benefits we provide at ERA will help support them with continued growth as we emerge from the pandemic.”