Company launches franchise service

A BRISTOL-BASED consultancy firm is marketing a franchise assessment service on the coat tails of the Lord Chancellor's vigorously pro-franchise reform Green Paper.

Management consultants Allery Scotts, which will carry out an on-site initial assessment to the Legal Aid Franchise Specification for £99, said that four firms had already signed up for a visit.

"Most reasonably well run practices are much closer to the requirements than they think," said managing director Rob Collinson.

"This provides them with an opportunity to find out exactly what's needed without spending a great deal."

But the venture is likely to face stiff competition from the Franchise Information Exchange being set up by the Legal Aid Practitioners' Group.

At the last count just over 100 firms had expressed an interest in joining the scheme which will put firms with franchises in touch with firms which want to apply and invite them to sell on their know-how at a locally negotiated fee.

Administrator Hazel Davis is delighted with the response and says the group will be pressing ahead with its plans to get its scheme up running.

A second project to draw up a list of consultants successfully used by firms has been put on hold due to the interest generated by the information exchange.