According to this year’s survey, there are currently 930 franchise operations trading right now, which is up 11 per cent from the previous year. And, potentially the best statistic for the most patriotic of our readers is that now four from five franchises are currently UK owned and run – proving that while international franchises such as SUBWAY, McDonalds and Trugreen have established themselves over here, home-grown business acumen still rules the roost.

Financially, franchising is contributing massively to the UK economy, with £13.7 billion poured into the country over the last year from franchises. This equates to just under one per cent of the total GDP.

Finally, while unemployment figures continue to give MP’s and those without a job a headache, franchising appears to be doing its bit – 561,000 people are employed through franchising in the UK today. To find out more facts and figures from the Natwest bfa Franchise Survey, pick up the February/March edition of The Franchise Magazine from newsstands nationwide from Friday, January 24th.

Published: 15 January 2014

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