All eyes are fixed on Manchester awaiting this summer’s essential event, The British Franchise Exhibition, with more national franchise opportunities than ever before.
Independent research from The British Franchise Association (bfa) has revealed that the franchise sector is now worth a record £15.1bn to the UK economy, following a 14% surge in the number of franchisee-owned businesses launched since 2013.1 Moving away from being a London-centric industry, the North-West now makes up 10% of the franchise sector generating an annual turnover of £1.6 billion from franchising, up 23% on the last 5 years.
Last year, following the government’s announcement of its intention to build a ‘Northern Powerhouse’, Manchester has continued to thrive. This makes it the ideal location to host The British Franchise Exhibition. Showcasing at EventCity, the event will highlight the tangible benefits of running your own franchise business and offer visitors the chance to discuss potential ventures with both regional and national franchise brands. Attendees will also gain exclusive insight into the proven success of the franchise model, which currently employs over 600,000 Brits across the UK with 97% of franchises operating profitably.
Sponsoring the event for a second year is Anytime Fitness, the world’s No.1 global franchise.4 Also in attendance will be hundreds of other top brands, industry experts and impartial advisors, offering visitors an unparalleled opportunity to gain advice.
Pip Wilkins, chief executive at the bfa, comments on why visiting a bfa-approved event is crucial to aspiring franchisees; “The British Franchise Exhibition is an excellent way to start researching, with a combination of informative seminars and the chance to meet face-to-face with a wide variety of accredited franchises and advisers, across a number of business sectors. Speakers at the bfa’s exhibition seminars are all long-standing experts in their field, providing outstanding access to a wealth of information, and the bfa team is always on hand to provide objective advice.”
A wide range of industry experts are exhibiting, varying from food and drink to home improvement. These brands will be on hand to speak with aspiring business owners to answer any queries. Established brands such as McDonald’s, Anytime Fitness, Dream Doors, Dublcheck, Platinum Property Partners, Tutor Doctor and Zero Dry Time will be showcasing exciting new opportunities.
Adrian Goodsell, franchise sales director at Venture Marketing Group comments; “Cities across the north, including Manchester, have already experienced huge financial and economic growth through the increasing popularity of franchising. Confidence in the industry is at an all-time high, and The British Franchise Exhibition is an ideal opportunity to explore the sector further and meet with regional experts.”
An extensive seminar programme will be available to those attending the exhibition, including over 40 free seminars, finance clinics, and panel discussions. The exhibition will host the ‘Growing Your Own Business’ workshops – a great opportunity for anyone looking to expand their current business or gain invaluable first-hand business advice on topics such as SEO, creative marketing, PR, social media, sales and crowdfunding. The exhibition will also feature keynote speakers offering their inspirational stories and personal experiences, including local business hero Keith McAvoy, co-founder of SEVEN BRO7HERS Brewery, and Dr Kim Lloyd, founder of Ugg Foods and the Paleo society.
For the latest updates, follow the event on Twitter @UKFranchising using the hashtag #BFEM16 for live news, ‘like’ the franchiseinfo page on Facebook and join The Franchise Exhibitions on LinkedIn for more information.
The British Franchise Exhibition takes place at EventCity, Manchester on 17th & 18th June 2016.
Visitors can gain free entry by registering online at www.FranchiseTickets.co.uk and entering the promotional code MAN1 (saving £10).
