Smartline Wins Franchise of the Year at Australian Mortgage Awards

28/9/2009

Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisers has taken out the Franchise Operation of the Year Award at the Australian Mortgage Awards.

The award, announced at a gala ceremony in Sydney on Friday night (September 25), further reinforces the group’s reputation as Australia’s best mortgage broking franchise group.

This win follows on from Smartline being recently named Australia’s number one franchise system by topfranchise.com.au, which ranks franchise systems from across all industries.

Furthermore, Smartline Executive Director Joe Sirianni received the Golden Mortgie for Lifetime Achievement in the Mortgage Industry, recognising his outstanding contribution to the industry as a whole. Mr Sirianni is also President-elect of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).

Smartline won the AMA’s Franchise Operation of the Year Award following telephone surveys of its franchisees who were asked what support and other attributes they though were most important from a franchise.

Using this data, other franchisees were contacted and asked to rate on a scale of 1-5 the top attributes that the survey had returned. From this, a total score, and rating, was calculated.

Smartline Managing Director, Chris Acret, said the group was thrilled to win this latest accolade, especially in its 10th anniversary year.
“Everyone involved with Smartline has worked incredibly hard over the past 10 years to make the group the strongest mortgage broking franchise group in Australia,” Mr Acret said.

“Winning the AMA Franchise Operation of the Year Award is testimony to the fact that we are getting the formula right and I am pleased that our franchisees believe there are real benefits in being a Smartline mortgage adviser.

“While this result recognises our benchmark systems and marketing, most importantly it recognises that our people are passionate about what they do and about being part of the Smartline group,” Mr Acret said.

Smartline has more than 200 franchise owners throughout Australia, has assisted over 100,000 clients and has a loan portfolio exceeding $10 billion.

Mr Acret said the result was testimony to the strength of the team culture embraced within the organisation.

“We have a group of amazing franchisees who offer our clients an unparalleled level of service and advice, and I’m pleased that these franchisees are so passionate and positive about being part of Smartline,” Mr Acret said.