New bfa promotional programme in collaboration with ITN Productions

The British Franchise Association has launched a promotional programme in collaboration with ITN Productions

The British Franchise Association and ITN Productions have launched ‘The Future is Franchising,’ a news and current affairs style programme exploring the opportunities available for franchisors and franchisees, as well as how the sector is contributing more than £15 billion each year to UK plc.

Successful franchising needs good support, systems and training provided by the franchisor and The Future is Franchising showcases how franchised businesses maintain a failure rate of less than five per cent after five years, compared to small business survival rates, which are as high as 91 per cent after one year of trading.

The programme also looks at how franchising offers the opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish and expand a business on a small scale, as well as the number of rewarding careers available.

Unprecedented growth

Franchising has unlocked unprecedented growth and success for some of the world’s best known brands and the programme features exclusive reports from some of the leading franchisees, who tell their unique success stories.

From well known restaurant chains, care homes and financial services, the programme looks at how others can learn from those leading the way.

In addition, the programme includes an interview with Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association, who talks about the need to educate and train both franchisors and franchisees, as well as how the bfa is supporting women in franchising.

Drawing upon ITN’s 60- year heritage and expertise in storytelling and presented by newsreader Duncan Golestani, The Future is Franchising combines key interviews, case studies and sponsored stories from Bluebird Care, HSBC Bank, McDonald’s Restaurants, Pirtek and Telefonica O2.

The programme will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring industry partners, as well as relevant journalists, writers and bloggers.

Driving visibility

Pip Wilkins, CEO of the bfa, says: “Promoting the success of the franchise model in the UK is a key pillar of the bfa’s central mission and driving visibility of the strength of the sector forward is a major focus for the association this year.

“Franchising is one of the success stories of the UK business landscape and collaborations like The Future is Franchising are designed to educate both the public and media to this effect.

“We are thrilled with the results of our partnership with ITN Productions, with so many high profile businesses drawn from across the length and breadth of the industry contributing to the show.

“With such high quality input from our members, together we have created an amazing and informative snapshot of the sector, covering a huge range of industry topics, from the basics of the ethical business format franchise model to the growth of specific trends like multi-unit and lifestyle franchises.”