Latest franchise news:

Web exclusive: Swisher: Swisher celebrates 10 years of Franchising Excellence
Swisher, the UK's top management franchise, is celebrating a decade of franchising excellence as 2007 marks the company's 10 Year Anniversary. Established in the UK in 1997, Swisher is now recognised as the leading brand within the washroom, cleaning and franchising sectors and is regularly used by franchising advisors as the benchmark for the high standards and ethical practice that franchisees should expect from a franchisor.

Web exclusive: Crime Shield: Crime Shield breaks new ground in physical security
HAVING identified a niche market area and providing a complete range of complementary products, Crime Shield has established six franchises in the UK within two years. Crime Shield franchisees are fully trained to offer tailor-made physical security to suit individual building needs and operational requirement.

Web exclusive: Franchise Development Services (FDS): Meet new partners and spotlight your brand in Belgium
The 12th Franchising & Partnership exhibition, organised in synergy with the Enterprise Fair, will take place on the 28th and 29th March 2007 in Brussels. Franchising & Partnership is an important annual meeting for franchisors.

Web exclusive: London House (Services): London House's trailblazers
Affectionately dubbed 'the Godfather', London House franchisee Trevor Williams has clocked up a lengthy 11 years and signed the franchise contract for a third term.

Web exclusive: Enfields: Franchise landmark for Enfields
Southern-based property firm Enfields welcomes a new franchisee to its business this month, who will be overseeing the company's second franchising operation in Portsmouth. The award-winning brand holds a strong market position and is to be headed by former branch manager Ralph Page.

Web exclusive: Bluebird Care: Tom Farrell, Bluebird Care, Warrington
I started my business, Red Line Recruitment, in 1998 supplying HGV drivers, packers, cleaners, etc to the transport sector on temporary contracts. Diversifying this already successful business really appealed to me. I was looking for a business that wasn't too different from what I was already doing. Bluebird Care is also about recruiting people and my initial impressions have been very favourable.

Web exclusive: Certax Accounting: Sharon Neal, CerTax Accounting, Wakefield
As a CerTax Accounting franchisee I can work the hours that suit my family, and I have bought an Audi TT - something I have always wanted. It's a good life and I wouldn't change it. In fact I'd find it very difficult working for someone else.

Web exclusive: Poppies: Andy Kilby, Poppies, Reigate
While most Poppies franchisees have been established for over 10 years, a relative newcomer is Andy Kilby who owns the Poppies franchise in Reigate. Before joining Poppies, Andy was a manager of a large branch of Sainsbury's. He was looking for the opportunity to use his skills and experience working for himself.

Web exclusive: O2: Steve Roberts, O2, Bolton
I worked for O2 for 13 years, first as a as store manager, then an area manager. The industry has always been varied and interesting, and one of my last projects for the company was setting up the franchising operation as the Franchise Development Manager.

Web exclusive: TruGreen: John Davy, TruGreen, Northumberland
I had been involved in motor retailing for 34 years but when I turned 50 this year I saw it as a turning point to do something different. I couldn't see myself doing my job until the day I retired so thought about what possibilities were open to me.

Web exclusive: Wiltshire Farm Foods: Mike Thompson, Wiltshire Farm Foods, County Durham
We were looking to diversify our homecare and hot meal delivery business and the Wiltshire Farm Foods frozen food delivery franchise mirrors our existing business. It operates in a niche market, we like the products and we already have the skills and the resources.

Web exclusive: TVSAS: TVSAS goes live
TV aerial and satellite installation services company TVSAS reports a good uptake on its TV aerial and satellite installation franchise opportunity.

Web exclusive: Dream Doors: Dream Doors Franchisee Polly Smalley
I bought a copy of The Franchise Magazine after a friend recommended that my husband Toby and I look into franchising. It kept falling open on the Dream Doors page so we contacted them for more information and arranged to meet them at the franchise exhibition in Birmingham.

Web exclusive: Apollo Blinds: BAFTA duo delight Apollo Blinds with new DVD
Britain's biggest blind store chain has turned to one of the UK's most innovative animation teams to produce its new promotional DVD.

Web exclusive: WPA: Challenging & varied sales/customer service business
Entering its second year as a franchise, Western Provident Association (WPA) is confident that its WPA franchise will become even better known throughout the UK. WPA is a not-for-profit Private Medical Insurer with over 300,000 customers in the UK and a history going back over 100 years. The business is split relatively equally between private business (individuals and self-employed) and corporate business (SME and very large FTSE 100). "We are best known for our culture of putting the customer at the centre of all that we do and actually meaning it,"states the company.

Web exclusive: eTyres: Top motoring personality backs tyre company franchise
Top TV personality Vicki Butler-Henderson says etyres is miles cheaper than leading tyre depots such as Kwik-Fit and ATS.

Web exclusive: KEM: KEM Franchise expo, Athens, 23-26 Feb 2007
Visit one of the top franchise exhibition in the world and choose the franchise tht best suits you...

Web exclusive: KEM: KEM Franchise expo...Athens...23-26 Feb 2007
Visit one of the top franchise exhibition in the world and choose the franchise tht best suits you...

Web exclusive: Autosheen: Receives highly acclaimed ISO 14001 environmental award
Autosheen is 'Green' - Today, Autosheen - the UK's leading national mobile valeting company - is pleased to announce that it has been accredited the highly coveted Quality Management Systems (QMS) 9001/2000 ISO 14001 ISO 9001:2000 award.

Web exclusive: Caremark: Caremark strengthens team with Franchise Manager
Domiciliary care franchise Caremark has boosted its skills pool with the appointment of Sean Cragg as Franchise Manager. Sean brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing to Caremark and will be working alongside Managing Director Kevin Lewis and the Caremark team to grow the network by 30 franchisees during 2007.

Web exclusive: Pareto Law: Pareto Law opens 6th regional office
Graduate recruitment and training specialist Pareto Law is expanding its network across the UK with the launch of a new office in Bristol, appointing John Plaster to head up the South West operations.

Web exclusive: Domino's Pizza Group: Action packed year for Domino's Pizza
It has been an action packed year for Domino's Pizza and the company's 151 local business owners. Here are a few of the main events...

Web exclusive: Domino's Pizza Group: Action packed year for Domino's Pizza
It has been an action packed year for Domino's Pizza and the company's 151 local business owners. Here are a few of the main events...

Web exclusive: British Franchise Association (BFA): BFA launches national search for UK's top Franchisors
A nationwide search is launched this week to find Britain's top franchisors in an industry now employing more than 327,000 and worth an annual £10 billion to the economy.

Web exclusive: British Franchise Association (BFA): BFA launches national search for UK's top Franchisors
A nationwide search is launched this week to find Britain's top franchisors in an industry now employing more than 327,000 and worth an annual £10 billion to the economy.

Web exclusive: Enfields: New Year Means New Opportunity For Many Self Starters
2007 will be the year of the franchisee, according to property visionary Rob Mott, managing director of award-winning firm Enfields, which recently celebrated the opening of its second operation.

Web exclusive: Molly Maid UK: Molly Maid achieves double digit growth in 2006
2006 has been an exceptional year for MOLLY MAID with 13 new Franchise Owners joining the Network and annual turnover growing in access of 10%

Web exclusive: Calbarrie: A right royal contract
Calbarrie Ltd, the electrical safety solutions expert based in Milton Keynes, has won a major contract - appliance testing for the royal households.

Web exclusive: YOUR MOVE: Record enquiries for YOUR MOVE
The Franchising Division of national estate agents YOUR MOVE has announced that it is experiencing record levels of enquiries from prospective franchisees. YOUR MOVE launched its franchise model in March 2003 and now boasts 85 franchised offices across the UK, with a large number in the pipeline that are committed to open before the end of the year.

Web exclusive: Sands Franchising Ltd: Sands Franchising wins Start Ups Award 2006
Sands Franchising Ltd carried off the winner's trophy for 'Retailer of the Year' at the Startups Awards held at London's Royal Garden Hotel. Short listed from over 450 entries, Sands was chosen for its impressive concept and potential, setting itself apart in the highly competitive health and beauty market and successfully establishing high quality, branded salons offering tanning, toning and nails all under one roof to consumers around the UK.

Web exclusive: Caremark: Development of the Domiciliary Care Market
With the growth in UK population and our increasing lifespans, the UK has an ever increasing number of older people. Caremark Managing Director Kevin Lewis reflects on the sweeping changes that the care services industry has undergone over the last 20 years and the creation of the domiciliary care market

Web exclusive: TaxAssist Accountants: Annual conference has largest turnout on record
TaxAssist Accountants, the accountancy and taxation service for small businesses, has reached its 10th Anniversary and celebrated in style. The Norwich-based company celebrated its 10th Anniversary at its Annual Conference held in November in the Midlands. The Conference attracted the largest turnout ever of its national network of accountants with over 300 franchisees, sponsors and branded service partners in attendance.

Web exclusive: Sumo: New licence granted for SUMO
SUMO, now the largest supplier of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) services to the construction industry in the UK, has been granted an Approved User Licence for Ground Penetrating Radar equipment from Ofcom.

Web exclusive: Unze: Unzè marks 18 months with 15 franchisees
Unzè by Shalimar Shoes is strutting its stuff in more than 15 locations across the UK and Ireland just 18 months after launching the franchise. Franchise Director, Kamran Saleem says the interest in Unzè's own-label ladies shoes and matching accessories has been "phenomenal".

Web exclusive: Pinnacle Chauffeur Transport Limited: Pinnacle franchisee becomes board member
Pinnacle Chauffeur Transport franchisee Trevor Langley (pictured) has exchanged his driving seat for one on the board, following a major reorganisation of the company in which he has become a major shareholder. In his new role as Sales and Marketing Director he will be responsible for developing the business nationally, supporting franchisees to develop their own local businesses and promoting the business concept.

Web exclusive: Bluebird Care: New franchisee signs for Bluebird Care at the NFE
Domiciliary care franchise Bluebird Care signed a new franchisee at the National Franchise Exhibition in October. Sue Milakovic has taken on the Mid-Staffordshire territory, after initially identifying the opportunity through the pages of The Franchise Magazine.

Web exclusive: Venture Marketing Group: The Growing your own Business Expo and Conference 2007
Attending the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference at Manchester GMEX will provide the perfect opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to learn from experts, network with like minded peers and suppliers and find out how to achieve success in business.

Web exclusive: Franchise Development Services (FDS): Call for Entries: The Franchise Marketing Awards 2007
Following the resounding success of the inaugural event in 2006, entries are now open for the prestigious Franchise Marketing Awards 2007. The closing date is 23 February 2007.

Web exclusive: British Franchise Association (BFA): Thinking of investing in a Francise?
Recognising the need by prospective franchisees for personal study of franchising, the British Franchise Association has put together a comprehensive guide pack

Web exclusive: MyHome Residential Cleaning: Government shows support for franchising
Myhome International plc received congratulations from the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee on awarding its 300th franchise. Myhome is a multi-product, multi-branded franchise operator, specialising in the provision of premium residential services. The company currently provides five key residential services: cleaning, garden maintenance, kitchen/bathroom resurfacing, specialist oven cleaning and car valeting, via the group's Myhome, Nicenstripy, Surface Doctor, Oven Clean and Autosheen brands respectively.