bfa puts Scots in the franchise driving seat

The 11th annual Scottish Franchise Week will take place from Monday 28 April to Friday 2 May, the British Franchise Association (bfa) has announced. Designed to showcase the Scottish franchise sector, the week sees business opportunities and seminars combine with social events to celebrate and raise awareness of the booming ethical franchise sector.

During 2013 the franchise sector accounted for 28,000 jobs in approximately 2,000 individual businesses representing almost 500 different franchise brands – and contributed a staggering £700 million to the Scottish economy.

This year Scottish Franchise Week is supported by Platinum Wave, a leading independent franchise consultancy, and HSBC bank. Anyone currently operating in the sector, or people with a desire to explore the diverse and dynamic range of opportunities it offers to those looking to run their own business, is encouraged to come along to any of the events on offer – many of which are free to attend.

A highlight of the week is the Scottish Business Breakfast that takes places on Thursday 1 May at the Radisson Blu hotel, Glasgow. The breakfast regularly attracts more than 250 people from within franchising and the wider business community. This year’s theme is “Driving Franchising Forward” and the bfa has lined up three exceptional speakers.

The keynote speaker is Gordon Shedden. Gordon was the 2012 British Touring Car champion, joining John Cleland and Jim Clark as the only Scottish drivers to win the overall championship title. Also speaking is franchisor Trevor Brocklebank, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care, the 2013 bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year. Trevor is much in demand for his expertise on franchising and his standing within the care sector, which sees him contribute to Westminister discussions and appear regularly in the media.

The line-up is completed by Lisa Tobias, the outstanding Domino’s franchisee with a number of stores across Glasgow and Ayrshire. She had six stores before she was 30 years old and has won a plethora of awards. She is the most successful female Domino’s franchisee in the UK.

Comprehensive seminars are taking place for those considering buying a franchise (2 May, Glasgow) and those thinking about expanding their own business via franchising (29 April, Edinburgh). Both days feature impartial advice from senior bfa managers and renowned local franchise experts – and best of all, both are free to Scottish residents.

Director general of the bfa, Brian Smart, stresses the importance of Scottish franchising: “Scotland is a market where there are serious opportunities for serious brands. The UK franchise sector is a maturing one, and that means that a greater number of growing businesses are looking to expand further across the entire UK.”

The business events are complemented by social events as well including a golf outing to the superb Kilmarnock Barassie course and an evening’s fun and networking at the Hummingbird bar in Glasgow.

Scottish Franchise Week is organised by Pip Wilkins, the bfa’s head of operations. She commented: “The week is always a perfect mix of business and pleasure, a chance to make new contacts and new friends. There’s such a rich history of franchising expertise in Scotland and its only right that the bfa plays its part in raising awareness of that.

“The Business Breakfast in particular is attended by a good combination of both franchising and independent companies, as well as local business groups, raising the standing of the sector in the wider Scottish economic landscape.

“Making as many events as possible during the week free for local residents is our way of encouraging as much involvement as we can. Anyone interested in franchising can come along to the seminars and receive impartial and expert advice on whether franchising might be right for them.”