British Franchise Association Announces TV Project

Partnering with ITN Productions, the news and current affairs style programme will explore what a franchise is and how it benefits business and business leaders of today.

The Future is Franchising, scheduled to launch at a bfa event in Birmingham on June 28, will also dispel the misconceptions around franchising.

With many people showing little understanding of how franchising works, the programme will aim to explain the industry to those who believe franchising is unaffordable, only for entrepreneurs or impossible to fail at.

Research has revealed small business survival rates are as high as 91 per cent after one year of trading, but after five years just 40 per cent will still be operational.

In comparison, franchised businesses maintain a failure rate of less than five per cent after five years. The programme will explore the support, systems and training provided by a franchisor to enable this.

To be anchored by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, The Future is Franchising will combine interviews and reports with sponsored editorial profiles.

It will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring bfa members, industry and government partners, as well as journalists, writers and bloggers.

Pip Wilkins, chief executive of the bfa (pictured), says: “This programme will enable the bfa to showcase the success and growth of franchising in the UK, while highlighting best practice within the sector.

“We’re excited to be working with ITN Productions and our members to present the diversity and opportunity franchising has to offer to the wider business community.”

Pip Wilkins, chief executive of the bfa