Manchester to offer wealth of business opportunities this summer

Showcasing for the second year at EventCity, The British Franchise Exhibition will give ambitious entrepreneurs exclusive insight into the hugely successful world of franchising and the enormous range of business opportunities it has to offer. According to the Natwest bfa franchise survey, well over 500,000 Brits now employed in franchising across the UK and industry turnover amounting to £13.7 billion, there has never been a better time to adopt one of the UK’s most successful business models.

Sponsored this year by leading fitness brand Anytime Fitness, the two-day event will bring together industry experts, franchise brands and potential franchise owners from across the UK. Visitors will be given a rare chance to discuss possible business opportunities with well established brands from across the UK, all of which meet the British Franchise Association’s (bfa) strict code of ethics.

The British Franchise Exhibition is the only UK franchise event endorsed by the bfa, making it a must-attend for anyone considering franchising. Brands such as McDonald’s, Auditel, Clarriots Care, and Mac Tools will be in attendance, each with exciting business opportunities to offer. Exhibitors will represent a wide range of sectors to suit any preference including homecare, fitness, accountancy, cleaning, retail, food and drink and many more.

A new element at this year’s exhibition will be the ‘Growing Your Own Business’ workshops. These inspiring seminars will offer guests the chance to hear from speakers who will give a range of advice and tools on how to grow and run a successful business, all from personal experiences. The workshops will offer solutions to everyday challenges many businesses face; such as marketing, work place pensions, SEO, PR, social media, sales and crowdfunding. Last year’s event saw motivating keynotes from speakers Neil Clough, one of the BBC Apprentice’s more successful candidates and Daniel Radcliffe, Managing Director of Redstar Creative.

Adrian Goodsell, Director of Franchise Sales at Venture Marketing Group comments: “A common misconception is that franchising is only suitable for established business owners. Franchising really is open to anyone and works by pairing the drive and ambition of an individual with the experience of a large, established brand. The British Franchise Exhibition is an exclusive opportunity to meet with bfa approved brands to gain advice and see how franchising could work for you.”

Those attending the exhibition will also be given free access to a variety of informative features as well as face-to-face guidance from industry experts. This includes an extensive seminar programme which offers visitors the required tools and advice to set up and manage a successful UK franchise business. Running across both days, conferences will be led by a range of experts such as the bfa, business advisers, legal and financial professionals, franchisors and franchise owners.

In addition, visitors can join open-floor discussions at the Real Franchise Stories panels. A consistently popular element of the event, the talk will feature current franchise owners who will provide accounts of their business journey and following success. These sessions give attendees insightful and personal details from people who have experienced, first hand, the transition into running your own business.

Another popular element of the exhibition is the McDonald’s Open sessions. Returning to EventCity, this invaluable seminar offers visitors an exclusive insight into one of the world’s most successful franchises. Visitors will have the chance to meet with McDonald’s staff and learn about the company’s franchisee training programme. With currently over 1,200 restaurants in the UK which serve more than three million customers every day, this is an unmissable opportunity for those interested in breaking into the food industry. McDonald’s will be looking for potential franchise owners with a hard working approach to running a customer orientated business.

For those seeking specialist franchise funding advice, the experts from Franchise Finance will be holding a Finance Clinic offering visitors help with drafting a business plan or raising funds for their new career path. The clinic will offer a wealth of advice and solution on any financial query an attendee has. Career choices can be difficult to make, those at Personal Career Management will be facilitating a Careers Clinic which aims to help visitors establish their skill set and match them to the best suited opportunity available.

The British Franchise Exhibition takes place at EventCity, Manchester on 19th & 20th June 2015. Visitors can gain free entry by registering online at www.franchisetickets.co.uk and entering the promotional code TFM1 (saving £10). For all the latest news follow the exhibition on Twitter; @UKFranchising, join the Franchise Exhibitions Group on LinkedIn or ‘like’ the Franchiseinfo group on Facebook.