Unlock the potential of franchising at the final Franchise Exhibition of 2019

More than 100 brands and a goldmine of expert advice will be at The National Franchise Exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC on 4 and 5 October.

Aspiring and existing franchisees can explore franchise opportunities across all investment levels and a large spectrum of sectors at the UK's flagship franchise exhibition this autumn.

The National Franchise Exhibition will also offer visitors inspiration, education and practical advice via the event's programme of more than 60 seminars.

Exhibiting brands will span premises, home and van-based opportunities and include names such as McDonald’s, Anytime Fitness, Auditel, First Class Learning and TruGreen.

The event organisers, Venture Marketing Group (VMG), work very closely with the British Franchise Association (bfa) to ensure the quality of franchisors at the exhibition, and every exhibiting brand must go through an exhibition accreditation process.

"As our research shows and the variety of exhibitors at this event illustrates, the franchise industry continues to mould to the needs of today. There are so many possibilities open to aspiring and existing business owners to find a venture which suits their passions, working style, personal commitments, and their long-term ambitions. The National Franchise Exhibition is the perfect place to explore the range of options available, with the peace of mind that all the exhibiting brands have demonstrated to us that they adhere to certain standards and values." 
Pip Wilkins, chief executive of the bfa

Franchising is more accessible than ever, and visitors can meet businesses offering investment levels starting at under £10,000 at the Low-cost Showcase. Nowadays the selection of businesses requiring low investment levels is extensive, reaching beyond van-based operations to business-to business services, children’s activities, photography, confectionery and more.

Those hoping to become part of the global success story that is McDonald’s should register for the exclusive Franchisee Recruitment Insight Sessions, where McDonald’s will reveal the demands and rewards of being one of their valued franchisees.

Another opportunity to research being a franchisee of a globally known brand can be found at the Vodafone Partner Discovery Zone, where members of the Vodafone franchising team will be ready to discuss the available opportunities to own and operate one or more Vodafone stores.

In addition to discovering brands and talking to their teams, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the programme of seminars and workshops on offer across the two days.

The bfa will host a series of seminars covering the fundamentals of franchising, as well as the Real Franchise Stories panel sessions where audiences can hear direct from existing franchisees about the realities of launching and operating a franchise business.

Franchising experts will explain how to franchise an existing business as a route to expansion, and a selection of exhibitors will host presentations about how their franchise networks operate.

The long-term success of any business is down to successful growth, and the Growing Your Own Business Conference, which runs parallel with the exhibition, offers seminars covering business planning, optimal sales tactics, and accessing business finance.

Success with one or more franchises will often lead to a desire to expand further, and the Multi-unit Franchise Conference has been designed to offer crucial insights and networking opportunities to existing franchisees with this ambition.

Sponsored by HSBC and co-located with the exhibition, the conference runs on Friday 4 October. Delegates will hear from speakers including Simon Wallis, international managing director of Domino's Pizza, and Judd Williams, development director of Slim Chickens, as well as a selection of highly successful multi-unit franchisees.

VIP Plus visitors are invited to use the HSBC Business Class Lounge where they can keep in touch with their businesses, network with members of HSBC's dedicated franchise team, and consult with cybersecurity expert Barry Searle.

Help with career choices will be available at the Careers Clinic, while experts in the Finance Clinic will advise on producing business plans to secure funding.
Also available for one-to-one consultations will be legal advisers, franchising consultants, and representatives from high street lenders HSBC UK, Barclays and Lloyds Bank, who have teams dedicated to finance for franchises.

“This is one of our most comprehensive events yet and we are confident that visitors to The National Franchise Exhibition will find all the information and support they need to inform their decision-making, in addition to having the chance to find their perfect franchise business among the scores of quality brands we will have under one roof.”
Helen McCulloch, Portfolio Director at VMG

Visit FranchiseInfo for more information about what’s going on at the event and claim your free tickets – saving £15 on the door – using code SUP2.