Editor: October/November highlights

Could confidence be starting to return to the UK economy? With France and Germany already celebrating positive growth, the UK is perhaps in line to follow suit in the next quarter or two with a reversal in the decline of property prices, and signs of improvement in the FTSE. What perfect timing to hold a National Franchise Week!

The UK's annual celebration of all things franchising commences on 28th September with the publication of a new survey of the franchise sector by Franchise Development Services and culminates with the announcement of the British Franchise Association's Franchisee of the Year Awards and the National Franchise Exhibition at Birmingham's NEC. National Franchise Week will provide a fascinating opportunity to check the pulse of the franchise sector in the UK. While interest in franchising has been boosted during 2009 through increased job insecurity in general, this week marks the annual highpoint for exposure and the franchisors I've spoken to, such as our cover brand Ovenclean are gearing up for a serious fillip for their franchise owner recruitment programmes.

In our last edition we at The Franchise Magazine were priviledged to claim the national exclusive on announcing Orange's launch of its franchise opportunity. As a follow up for this edition we have interviewed the brand's first UK franchise owner, Iain Humphrey.

Iain will be setting the standard for the Orange franchise owners that follow, much like our Franchise Owner Record Breakers and our Franchise Millionaires. Reading about the successes of people who have changed their lives with a franchise is always the most inspiring aspect of working in the franchise media.