smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

No safety net

Whereas some financial institutions may get bailed out by a...
Have your say »

RSS

British Franchise Association calls for awards entries

Feb 28 2008

The British Franchise Association (BFA) is looking for entries to the 2008 Franchisor of the Year awards.

The awards are intended to celebrate Britain's "best performing" franchisers.

Winners will be announced in a ceremony on 22 May in London and the theme for this year's event is 'Now and then, five years on'.

Entrants to the Franchiser of the Year category will have to demonstrate how their business has grown and developed over the past five years and their impact on the franchising sector.

There are gold, silver and bronze awards at stake and entries close on 7 March.

Brian Smart, the BFA's director general, notes that franchising is an excellent way to expand a business and increase revenue.

He says: 'The most successful franchisors are those who continually develop their business model to support their networks, ensuring they maximise growth whilst building a sustainable and profitable business'.

According to results from a survey carried out by the BFA, 45 per cent of customers would rather buy from a franchised than a non-franchised business. It estimates the franchising sector employs around 364,000 people.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Enter our prize draw!!

You've probably noticed smallbusiness.co.uk has a brand new look. You can personalise the homepage to suit your needs and there's lots of new content including video, blogs and the small business resource centre.

We're interested to know what you think about the new small business site, so we'd like you to take this opportunity to have your say. All entrants will be entered into our free prize draw to win a bottle of champagne provided by our partners at Laithwaites! Enter here

Polls

Latest News

Closing of energywatch 'will affect small businesses'

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has stated many companies will not know where to turn following the closure of energywatch.

New regulations 'will hamper small businesses'

The volume of new legislation being brought in will cost small businesses money to deal with and may overwhelm some firms, an industry body states.

Nation gets rich on diverse business

The UK is getting richer as more people look for diverse ways to use their skills, resulting in a wider variety of companies.

Inflation 'significantly affecting profitability'

Rising costs are putting a serious strain on the profitability of small businesses, new research finds.

Business groups call for rate cuts

New figures demonstrate the rate of inflation has nearly reached its peak and so interest rates should be cut as soon as possible, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) believes.

CBI growth forecasts cut

Growth in 2009 will be at its slowest level since 1992, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) predicts.

BCC: Manufacturing decline indicates recession

The greater-than-expected downturn in manufacturing output indicates the UK economy is 'very probably' in technical recession, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) remarks.

Business confidence 'stable'

Confidence among British businesses has remained stable since May - the first time it has not gone down since April 2007, a poll finds.

Credit crunch 'pushes SMEs to administration'

A substantial number of small businesses will be forced into administration by decreased sales, according to the British Retail Consortium.

Business Link highlighting regulatory changes

Government start-up advisory service Business Link is highlighting the regulatory changes which are set to affect small firms from October 1st.

Weak spending 'indicates state of economy'

A slowing in consumer spending offers a fair indication of the state of the economy, Capital Economics claims.

Guides & Tips

Start-up survival: the early days

When I sold my venture capitalist firm in 2000 and I was asked what tips I had for start-up companies, my initial response was, ‘Just don’t do it!’

Guide to writing a business plan

This 10-point guide shows the benefits of a good business plan and what to consider when writing one.

Getting started in buy-to-let

For some, buying a property to let can generate a full-time income, and the task of managing more than one or two properties can become a job in itself. SmallBusiness.co.uk teamed up with Gee Sahota, from Simply Business to offer some basics to get you started.

Don't Miss

Start-ups and universities

The UK is world-class when it comes to science and innovations. Increasingly, these great ideas are being turned into commercial reality

Rising star: Piers Daniell

Still only 26, Piers Daniell has taken internet service provider Fluidata from the confines of his bedroom to a £2 million business in the space of two years

Business loans for starting up abroad

There is no reason in principle you cannot finance the purchase of an overseas business in the UK. The Business Banking Code says that before a bank lends you any money, they will assess whether they feel that you will be able to repay it.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.