The british & international franchise exhibition returns to london olympia on march 13-14
This invaluable event offers a fantastic insight into the world of franchising, with over 100 successful franchise brands exhibitingunder one roof.
Sponsored this year by leading fitness brand Anytime Fitness, the two-day exhibition is the UK’s leading international franchise event and will bring together industry experts, franchise brands and potential franchisees from across the globe.
DISCUSS
Aspiring entrepreneurs will be given the rare chance to discuss international business opportunities with highly established brands from the UK and overseas. With over 500,000 Brits now employed in franchising across the UK and industry turnover amounting to £13.7 billion, there has never been a better time to adopt one of the UK’s most successful business models.
A wide range of sectors will be available to suit any preference, including home care, fitness, accountancy, cleaning, retail, food and drink and many more. Representing a cross-section of businesses from across the world, renowned brands exhibiting include McDonald’s, RUSH Hair & Beauty, Platinum Property Partners and Wok&Go.
Guests are able to visit www.franchiseinfo.co.uk, which has an online meetings booking service, allowing visitors to browse the extensive exhibitor list and secure pre-booked appointments with companies of interest to their franchise requirements.
Now in its 20th year, The British & International Franchise Exhibition is the only international franchise exhibition endorsed by the British Franchise Association (bfa). Visitors can be reassured that all exhibitors have been approved and meet the bfa’s strict code of ethics.
The event has once again been granted Trade Fair Certification by the U.S. Commercial Service and is recognised as an essential platform for businesses seeking to expand their franchise network into targeted markets around the world.
Tony St Alouis Porter, a legal consultant from Southwark, attended the event in 2014 and commented: “I’d recommend this to anyone who is thinking about going into franchising. It’s a really good way to find out what companies are really like, what they want and the reality of investing in a franchise, particularly the costs and what is required. The company presentations help you to discover the different businesses on offer and are helpful and interesting. I’ve learnt a lot.”
The exhibition offers aspiring franchisees a variety of free and informative features, as well as face-to-face guidance from industry experts. This includes an extensive seminar programme, which provides attendees with practical solutions to setting up and managing a successful UK or international franchise business.
Running across both days, the free-to-attend seminars will be led by a range of experts, such as the bfa, business advisers, legal and financial professionals, franchisors and franchisees. The ‘Finance Clinic’ and ‘Careers Clinic’ will also be freely available to all visitors and will offer one-to-one advice on business plans and matching a franchise to your skills set.
CHALLENGES
This year will also welcome an exciting new addition to the exhibition - the ‘Growing Your Own Business’ seminars and workshops. Perfect for those looking to grow and expand their existing businesses, the workshops will offer solutions to the everyday challenges many businesses face.
The focus will be on subjects such as creative marketing on a budget, workplace pensions, search engine optimisation, public relations, social media, sales and crowdfunding. Successful entrepreneurs from established brands will be inspiring visitors with innovative growth strategies to implement in their own businesses.
Company founders Edd Read of healthy online snack company Graze and Eric Partaker of Chilango will talk about their successes in business and offer visitors their knowledge and expertise.
On Friday, March 13 Edd will be delivering a speech recounting the story of Graze ‘From Bedroom to International Business’. The following day, Eric Partaker will relate how his passion for Mexican food during his childhood in Chicago led to the creation of Chilango in 2007, which now serves Mexican food across the capital.
The International Franchise Conference is an essential feature of The British & International Franchise Exhibition and covers key topics for aspiring business owners who are considering international franchising. The conference will be highly beneficial for those looking to invest in an international franchise and launch it in their home country, as well as those interested in expanding their businesses overseas.
This year, some of the UK’s most well-known brands, keynote speakers and franchise experts will be sharing their advice. Toni & Guy, McDonald’s, NatWest, Anytime Fitness and BoConcept, among others, will be offering strategies to ensure the success of an international franchise.
A consistently popular event at the exhibition is the McDonald’s Open Sessions. This interactive seminar offers visitors the chance to meet with McDonald’s staff and learn about one of the world’s most successful franchisee training programmes.
With currently over 1,200 restaurants in the UK, which serve more than three million customers every day, this is an unmissable opportunity for those interested in breaking into the food industry. McDonald’s will be looking for potential franchisees with a hardworking approach to running a customer oriented business.
AMBITION
Adrian Goodsell, director of franchise sales at Venture Marketing Group, which organises The British & International Franchise Exhibition, comments: “A common misconception is that franchising is only suitable for established business owners. Franchising is open to anyone and works by pairing the drive and ambition of an individual with the experience of a large, established brand.
“The British & International Franchise Exhibition is a unique opportunity to meet with international and UK brands to gain advice and see how franchising could work for you.”
