Leathes Prior Franchising Team attends BFA Annual Conference

Three members of the firm’s Franchising Team (Jonathan Chadd, Ed Savory and Vicki Mitman) recently attended the British Franchise Association’s (BFA) Annual Conference in Telford.

The Conference comprised as follows:

•keynote speech from the UK Trade & Industry on the services which are available to UK businesses looking to expand into foreign jurisdictions

•update from the BFA on it’s the progress of “One Vision” with the introduction of franchisee membership so that the BFA will become truly representative of the entire franchising industry in the UK

•retirement of Sir Bernard Ingham as President of the BFA

•keynote speech from Sarah Walker (freelance writer journalist) on engaging with the media

There were also three sets of concurrent seminars lead by BFA franchisors and professional adviser members (known as Affiliates) on the following topics:

•Session 1: Advanced Franchising – Exit planning for franchisors; Franchising Essentials – Building the right support structure; Legal & Ethics – Making sure your agreements are up to date; and Sales & Marketing – The dangers & pitfalls of social media

•Session 2: Advanced Franchising – How to use successful profiling in franchise recruitment; Franchising Essentials – Avoiding franchisee first year failures; Legal & Ethics – Managing franchisee disputes; and Sales & Marketing – Local franchisee marketing

•Session 3: Advanced Franchising – Managing franchisees out of the comfort zone; Franchising Essentials – Ongoing training and levels of support; Legal & Ethics – Advising on the Ethics of Franchising; and Sales & Marketing – Online marketing

The highlight was undoubtedly on the evening of Thursday 21 June which saw a glittering awards ceremony for the 2012 bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards, supported by Express Newspapers. The winners were as follows:

bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Award

•Gold – Autosmart

•Silver – Home Instead Senior Care

•Bronze – Driver Hire

•Other finalists – McDonalds and Tax Assist Accountants

HSBC Franchisee Support Award

•Winner – Auditel

•Other finalists – Countrywide Signs; Jaspers; Maid2Clean and O2

Express Newspapers Brand Builder Award

•Winner – Cafe2U •Other finalists – Mac Tools; Envirovent and Wiltshire Farm Foods

Leathes Prior was proud to support clients nominated for awards and sends its warmest congratulations to all of this year’s finalists. To find out more about the 2012 awards winners click on: www.thebfa.org/news/bfa-news/uks-top-franchisors-revealed