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With such a good range of inspiring exhibitors and so many helpful features, The National Franchise Exhibition provides visitors with all they need to know to explore a career in franchising

Adrian Goodsell,
Head of Franchise Sales,
Venture Marketing Group

Franchise businesses across diverse sectors such as property, finance, retail, technology, leisure and home care will all be exhibiting to discuss exciting career opportunities with visitors. There will be prospects to suit all budgets, interests and skills. Companies exhibiting include Platinum Property Partners, Revive!, WPA, Clarriots, HomeCare, Business Doctors, Snappy Snaps, Papa John’s, Home Instead Senior Care, Cash Converters, McDonald’s, Dream Doors and many more.

There is an appointment system in place to help visitors to make the most of their time at the exhibition, allowing them to pre-book meetings with companies that already interest them. Further details about this are available via the website.

As well as the wide range of exhibitors, visitors will find many free features at the event all designed to provide expert guidance and valuable insight on a vast variety of important and interesting elements of franchising.

Notable among these features is the comprehensive seminar programme including a series of British Franchise Association (bfa) panel seminars on subjects such as “An introduction to franchising.” In these, expert consultants, solicitors, bankers and franchisors will cover all the essential aspects to be considered when planning a new career as a franchise owner. Talks on specific topics such as high-level investment franchising, executives in franchising and hands-on franchising will explore many different areas of the industry in further depth. There will also be seminars on growing your own business with an exciting range of inspiring entrepreneurs passing on their business know-how. Each year thousands of visitors find these seminars to be a great help as they learn more about franchising. Tricia Gayle who came over from Dublin for the event thought that the seminars were extremely informative and interesting while Michael Douglas, a social work project worker from Birmingham said they were ‘brilliant’.

Alongside the conference, the event also features free advisory services, enabling visitors to meet with the professionals and gain expert advice on all areas of franchising. For instance the Expert Advice Clinic enables those looking to run a franchise to gain answers to all their questions in one place from industry experts, lawyers and bankers. The Finance Clinic will provide guidance on financing a franchise and writing a business plan while the Careers Clinic consultants will help to benchmark skills and discuss options to generate a clear, focused and realistic career plan.

Real Franchise Stories is a popular session where visitors can learn from existing franchise owners who will share their experiences and top tips on how to build a successful career as a proud franchise owner.

Finally, those with families can make good use of the Children’s Activity Centre, hosted by award-winning kids activity franchise, The Creation Station.

Visitors can have full confidence in the franchise opportunities available as The National Franchise Exhibition is the only franchise exhibition in Birmingham this spring supported by the bfa, meaning only franchise companies that have met the bfa’s code of ethics are allowed to exhibit.

A day at The National Franchise Exhibition is a highly efficient and effective way to learn about franchising, providing the chance to explore career opportunities at face to face meetings and find all the vital information under one roof.

David England, a construction project manager from Sutton Coldfield thought that his visit to The National Franchise Exhibition in 2013 was “very good and useful. There is a diverse range of opportunities here and I can see myself doing some of them.” Jon Eley, a logistics supervisor from Derby said: “Speaking to franchise owners has been valuable in gaining a real picture of the businesses. I’ve now identified several sectors to look at in more detail.” Kerry Kimber from Edinburgh simply explained: “It has been well worth the trip.”

Adrian Goodsell, Head of Franchise Sales at Venture Marketing Group, organisers of the exhibition, comments: “With such a good range of inspiring exhibitors and so many helpful features, The National Franchise Exhibition provides visitors with all they need to know to explore a career in franchising.”You can register for The National Franchise Exhibition online. Visitors can gain free admission by using the promotional code TFMDEC when booking tickets online – saving up to £15 on the door.

The National Franchise Exhibition is open from 10am each day, closing at 5pm on Friday 14 February and 4pm on Saturday 15 February 2014.