Scottish Franchise Week 2014, the 11th annual celebration of the £700m franchise sector north of the border, proved another resounding success as it wrapped up at the beginning of May.

Aimed at raising awareness of the importance of franchising in the Scottish economy, the week involves a series of business and social events for those considering joining a franchise, for those thinking about franchising an existing business, and for the substantial number of professionals already working in the Scottish franchise sector.

The flagship event of the week each year is the Scottish Franchise Business Breakfast, which welcomed almost 200 delegates on 1 May. Keynote speaker, racing driver Gordon Shedden inspired the audience with details about the ups and downs and thrills and spills of a career spent on the British Touring Car racing circuit.

Gordon was crowned 2012 BTCC champion, joining John Cleland and Jim Clark as the only Scottish drivers to win the overall championship title.

He was joined on the podium by Trevor Brocklebank of Home Instead Senior Care and Lisa Tobias of Domino’s Pizza. Trevor is one of the UK’s most successful franchisors, having built his care at home franchise into a £60m turnover business with wife Sam. The company was named bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year 2013. Lisa has been an extraordinarily successful franchisee having opened six Domino’s outlets in Glasgow and Ayrshire before she was 30, picking up a plethora of awards along the way. She is the most successful female Domino’s franchisee in the UK.

Pip Wilkins, head of operations at the British Franchise Association, said: “The feedback from those attending the breakfast was fantastic. They left the event inspired by the success of the speakers both in the franchising and sporting forums. We also had record numbers attend our free seminars throughout the week which aimed to inform the public and businesses about franchising.
“Franchising makes a substantial contribution of £700m a year to the Scottish economy and the future for the sector looks very bright indeed. We are also grateful to our sponsors HSBC and Platinum Wave whose support made the week possible.”

A social evening at the Hummingbird Bar in Glasgow hosted by the event sponsors raised almost £600 in donations for the charity Radio Lollipop, an international children’s charity providing care, comfort, play and entertainment to children in hospital. It has 10,000 volunteers running radio stations in 26 hospitals across five countries.