Business looking up for franchises
With the British Franchise Association's (bfa) annual survey due out shortly, the resilience of franchise businesses across the UK is expected to shine through.
With the British Franchise Association's (bfa) annual survey due out shortly, the resilience of franchise businesses across the UK is expected to shine through.It would be nave to expect the franchise industry to have completely escaped the impact of the recession. However, from bfa member feedback, it is expecting this year to show that the industry still remains positive and prosperous for many.
Franchise businesses are inherently more robust than other business start-ups and, as a result, can provide a successful and solid new future for many. This stability also gives them inherent advantages to offer their customers in a time when stability is something that not all businesses can offer.
This is demonstrated on your own doorstep with businesses you walk past nearly every day and are part and parcel of life in Peterborough. Just some of the franchise businesses which work together and provide products and services to the local area include Belvoir Lettings, Cartridge World, Venture, Sign-A-Rama, Tax Assist Accounting, Drive Hire Recruitment, 80 20 Financial Management, Dream Doors, Domino's Pizza, McDonalds, Select Appointments, Silverdaze, Riverford . . . and the list goes on.
With so many vibrant and enterprising business people, who make up the 34,000 franchise businesses across the UK, it is little wonder that this is now a major employment sector and significant contributor to the UK economy.
Later this year, the UK will honour the best of franchising in the UK, with the winners being announced for the bfa Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC and Express Newspapers. Already open, these awards celebrate the outstanding contribution and performance that so many franchisees across the UK accomplish.
Last year saw Angie Baynes of Venture take home the coveted winning Gold Award after Angie not only represented the best of successful franchising in terms of turnover and profit, but truly caught the spirit of that year's theme of change.
Angie showed that age is no barrier to success and that if you are prepared to embrace change and pursue the courage of your convictions you really can turn dreams into reality. Just a few years ago, Angie was working in someone else's business. Now she is the MD of two franchised outlets with a projected turnover of 2 million.
The enthusiasm that a franchise can offer, from being a local business, with national support, was shown recently at the Serpentine Green Shopping Centre.
A variety of different franchise businesses worked together in raising awareness to the public, under the banner of Proud to Franchise – an initiative to help provide consumers with more information about the benefits of buying from franchised businesses.
With hundreds of information bags taken away by people and discussions with many more during the day, Peterborough is leading the way in businesses working together to help further inform consumers and provided greater levels of service as a result.
n For more information on Proud to Franchise, visit www.proudto franchise.co.uk
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Weather for Peterborough
Tuesday 16 March 2010
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