BFA to combine EWIB and EWiF Awards in 2026

The joint event will bring together inspiring women from across business and franchising to share insights and success stories

The BFA (British Franchise Association) has announced that its flagship event EWIB (Empowering Women in Business) will be combined with the Encouraging Women in Franchising (EWiF) Awards for the first time in 2026.

The new joint event will be held on Wednesday, 20 May at Leicester Tigers Stadium. While there will be combined and single-ticket options, the goal of the collaboration is to reduce costs for the community as well as time out of the office. 

CEO of the BFA, Pip Wilkins QFP, said: “I am delighted to announce this important merger today between EWIB and the EWiF Awards events. Both events have one core objective – recognising and celebrating the importance of women in UK franchising. Guests can now look forward to a day of learning and networking at EWIB, followed by all the fun and the glamour of the EWiF Awards. We hope this joint day will mean more women and their teams will be able to attend these top-tier franchising events.”

“Both events have one core objective – recognising and celebrating the importance of women in UK franchising.”

Helen Mansfield, managing director of EwiF, agreed: “For the last couple of years, we have been aware of the pressure on brands and their networks, especially financially. Pip and I had been discussing how we could best support the sector; bringing these two events together into one amazing day felt like a clear, positive step. We can’t wait to see how the day unfolds, and I’m even more excited to start reading the award entries.”

The theme for EWIB 2026 is ‘Leadership. Legacy. Impact.’, bringing together inspiring women from across business and franchising to celebrate success and share real, lived experience. Through powerful stories and practical insight, the event will explore how women grow sustainable businesses, build support systems, and lead with confidence, while navigating everyday challenges. The EWIB programme will move beyond buzzwords to honest conversations that empower women to lead, lift others as they climb, and create lasting impact on their own terms.

Entries for the EWiF Awards open on 19 January 2026 here, with tickets for the two events on sale now via the BFA website.