Discover franchising during National Franchise Week

Franchising will hit the national agenda in October with a series of key events taking place throughout National Franchise Week. The British Franchise Association previews its activities

If you have ever wanted the chance to be your own boss and start your own business, then franchising could be the right choice for you. Franchising can offer you the chance to be independent, build up your own business and make sure that all the rewards of your hard work go directly to you. You will still have the support and back up of a franchisor behind you though to help you with your business.

National Franchise Week is an established event which offers people the chance to find out more about franchising in different locations across the UK. There is the opportunity to explore the different franchise options available and to find out if franchising is the right choice for you.

The overall goal of National Franchise Week is to raise awareness of franchising as a successful business model. Franchising in the UK is a £10.8 billion industry that encompasses 781 franchise systems and employs 371,600 people. National Franchise Week will be taking place from the 1st to the 12th of October. It is organised by The British Franchise Association, sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and supported by Yell and Sage.

Key local events during National Franchise Week are the discovery days. These will take place in different regional locations and are held in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and local councils. These days aim to give an introduction to the world of franchising as a proven and established way of starting your own business or a growth mechanism for expanding an existing business. The Discover Franchising events will be taking place in different locations and are held in partnership with CREATE, South London Business, Croydon Enterprise, Northwest Regional Development Agency and local councils. They will be taking place in Sheffield on the 8th October, Walsall on the 9th October, London on the 10th October and in St Helens on the 12th October.

It is worth noting that entry to the Discovery Days is free and visitors can drop into the Discover Franchising centre any time between 1.30pm and 8.30pm. There is also an opportunity to attend an educational seminar to discover what franchising is really about and to listen to case studies from people who have done it for themselves. There will also be financial and legal experts on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Ruth Kellar of the bfa comments: 'We are pleased to be working with the RDAs to encourage sustainable enterprise in the regions. The Discover Franchising Days are an excellent opportunity for people to find out if franchising is something they wish to consider and to help them to structure their research effectively.'