BFA doubles down on youth franchising campaign at Ideas Fest 2026

The BFA (British Franchise Association) and Elite Franchise have announced they are partnering up for a return to Ideas Fest in September 2026.

Ideas Fest, which launched in 2025, is designed like a festival, including onsite camping, glamping and evening entertainment, to appeal to a younger audience. 

The event expects to draw over 6,000 delegates and 200 expert speakers to the two-day event in the Hertfordshire countryside.

Successful founders

Ticket holders this year will have the chance to hear from some of the UK’s most successful business founders such as Simon Woodroffe OBE (YO! Sushi), Sir Richard Harpin, (Homeserve), Laura Tenison (JoJo Maman Bébé) and Louise Hill (Go Henry).

BFA’s educational agenda

The BFA is currently engaged in an ongoing campaign to educate younger people about franchising.

In a recent poll[1] of its 2,500 members,[2] it was revealed that the average age they found out about franchising was 33, and for 37% of them, that was through work. In another poll 95.8% of respondents said they thought franchising should be taught in a formal education setting, either school or college/university, or both.

In response the BFA is launching an educational resource pack for members to use to deliver information sessions in their local areas.

Franchise Launch Pad

In light of the poll results and following the success of their 2025 visit, from 9-10 September 2026 the BFA will be co-hosting a ‘Franchise Launch Pad’ stand with Elite Franchise at the event, in a bid to educate a new generation of entrepreneurs about business format franchising.

Panel discussions

Alongside hosting the stand, filled with expert staff and information about franchising, the BFA and Elite Franchise will be hosting two Q&A panel discussions in the ‘Greenhouse’ marquee at 10am and 2pm each day, entitled ‘Thinking about becoming a franchisee – stop dreaming start deciding’ and ‘Thinking about franchising your business.’

Expert franchising guests

Guest panelists will include: Lisa Stead, CEO, Stagecoach, Liam Hobbs, owner, More Than Loft Ladders, Natalia Shvarts from Excello Law, Suzie McCafferty from Platinum Wave Franchising and Rachel Brooks from Swimtime.

Positive conversations

Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA said: “When we attended Ideas Fest for the first time in 2025 we didn’t know quite what to expect, but we had a fantastic time and had some great conversations with people thinking about buying a franchise or franchising their existing business.  Second year in and we’re very excited to be playing a larger part with the Franchise Launch Pad this year, alongside our friends at Elite Franchise. With such a young demographic, Ideas Fest is the perfect place for us to redouble our efforts to introduce the concept of franchising to younger people and keep having those meaningful conversations.”