Get a head start in business at the UK's largest Franchise exhibition
HOW TO GET THERE:
• Rail: The nearest station is Birmingham International. This station is easily accessible from all over the UK and is only 10-15 minutes by train from Birmingham New Street. Virgin Trains operate a fast and frequent half-hourly shuttle service between London Euston and Birmingham International.
• Road: The NEC is situated in close proximity to the M40, M42, M5, M6 and M1. On arrival, visitors have access to extensive parking facilities.
• Air: The NEC is directly opposite Birmingham International Airport.
future events:
23rd-24th November 2007
The Irish Franchise Exhibition, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference
RDS, Dublin
25th-26th January 2008
The British Franchise Exhibition, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference
Central Manchester
4th-5th April 2008
The British & International Franchise Exhibition, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference
Olympia, London
13th-14th June 2008
The British Franchise Exhibition, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference
SECC, Glasgow
The exhibition will offer visitors the chance to discover a wide range of franchise companies, allowing them to assess the benefits of running their own business as part of an established brand.
The National Franchise Exhibition will include over 250 proven business concepts, from health and fitness, motoring and recruitment to cleaning, food and drink, and home improvement. Visitors will have the opportunity to find the business that is the ideal match for their specific skill set and interests.
Among the companies exhibiting will be Apollo Window Blinds, Auditel Consulting, BB's Coffee & Muffins, Dream Doors, Car Medic, Cash Generator, Chemex, Dent Wizard, Gymophobics, Energie Fitness Clubs, Maid2Clean, Esprit, McDonalds Restaurants, Prontaprint, Signs Express, Snap-On Tools, Snappy Snaps, Subway, Select Appointments, Myhome, The Garage Door Team and Wimpy.
Please click here for a free ticket to The National Franchise Exhibition, courtesy of The Franchise Magazine.
In addition to the franchises on offer, there will be expert advice available to help visitors with every key issue involved in franchising from how to raise capital, to handling legal contracts and employment issues. Experts include leading representatives from the British Franchise Association (bfa), high street banks, accountants and solicitors.
FRANCHISE MATCH-MAKING ZONE
The ideal starting point for any entrepreneur visiting the exhibition is the Franchise Match Making Zone. Specifically designed to help match visitors with their ideal franchise business, the Zone aims to enable participants to better manage their time at the event. The Zone will provide visitors with a bespoke route plan around the exhibition by taking into account their level of investment, key interests and location.
BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (bfa) SEMINARS
The bfa will be running a series of highly informative free seminars on both days of the exhibition. Designed to appeal to everyone looking to find out more about becoming a franchisee or franchisor, they will include seminars from leading bfa members and affiliates from across the UK franchise industry.
WOMEN IN FRANCHISING ZONE
The Women in Franchising Zone, supported by Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs, is a dedicated area designed to help female visitors looking to run their own franchise business.
The highlight of the Zone is a free conference featuring leading women entrepreneurs and experts from the franchise industry. Speakers will include Rosemary Conley, founder of the countrywide Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs, and Michelle Dewberry, entrepreneur and winner of BBC 1's The Apprentice 2006.
The Zone will also include a networking lunch to be held on the Friday. This lunch is free to attend and open to all female visitors. Places must however be booked in advance by emailing Elizabeth.ashby@vmgl.com.
NEXT STEP CLINIC
New to the exhibition this year will be the Next Step Clinic, facilitated by Franaccounts. This clinic will offer visitors individual advice on the next financial steps to be taken once they have decided which franchise to invest in. Appointments at the clinic are free and can be booked in advance by emailing nextstep@franaccounts.com.
THE FRANCHISE PRESENTATION THEATRE
The Franchise Presentation Theatre is a fascinating element of the show wherethe founders of leading franchising companies explain the ideas behind their businesses. Speakers include representatives from brands Goodchilds Estate Agents and Lettings and LMI, a leading provider of leadership training development programmes.
THE GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE
This exhibition & conference, is the premier event for small business owners. The exhibition features leading specialists in small business management with superb solutions to help companies increase their efficiency, improve their profitability and develop sustainable growth.
The National Franchise Exhibition is open from 10am each day, closing at 5pm on Friday 5 October and 4pm on Saturday 6 October. To register for The National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham, and the Growing Your Own Exhibition & Conference, call +44 (0) 870 777 1048 or visit www.franinfo.co.uk or www.sme-events.com. Callers can purchase tickets by credit card for £8 each or £7 each for two or more. Admission on the door is £13.