Countrywide wins gold

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance has taken the Gold Award at this year’s British Franchise Association’s Franchisor of the Year Awards. Silver was awarded to TaxAssist Accountants with bronze going to Wiltshire Farm Foods. 

This year’s theme was ‘Today’s Foundations for Tomorrow’s Success’.

“Franchisors today are under many pressures,” says Sir Bernard Ingham, president of the bfa and chairman of the judges for the awards. “They hold in their hands the livelihoods of many individual business owners and the means to secure their future demands foresight, acumen and investment. This year the awards were conducted during a very difficult economic climate and the winner, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, has clearly demonstrated that the work it is doing will ensure the future success of its business.”

Says Simon Stott, managing director of Countrywide Grounds Maintenance: “It is a magnificent honour to win the bfa Franchisor of the Year Awards. It is also testament to the hard work and dedication of all the head office support staff and franchisees. We have developed new and exciting initiatives over the last 18 months with our franchisees to ensure that Countrywide Grounds Maintenance remains the market leader and the business drives its turnover and profitability forward during these challenging times.”

GreenThumb, which offers a nationwide lawn treatment service, won the Express Newspapers Brand Builder of the Year title, while Home Instead Senior Care took the HSBC Award for Enterprise.