Member Article

The National Franchise Exhibition

A visit to The National Franchise Exhibitionat the NEC in Birmingham on 3 & 4 October is the perfect starting point for anyone considering a change in career or to start a new business. The flagship franchise event of the industry will be packed with exciting opportunities and all the advice and information you need to succeed, all under one roof.

Starting up on your own can be daunting but with a proven business model, an established brand and the support of a network of helpful experienced colleagues, the prospects of success can be much greater. It is this formula that has made franchising so successful - according to the recent NatWest/bfa survey, 92 % of franchises are operating profitably.

There will be hundreds of inspiring franchises to suit every skill, interest and budget availableat The National Franchise Exhibition, from health and fitness to finance, from food and drink to home care, and children’s services to property. Many of the vast range of opportunities from the UK and overseasare with well-known brands such as Anytime Fitness, McDonald’s, Mail Boxes Etc, and Platinum Property Partners as well as with fresh franchising opportunities such as Smart PA, Diamond Logistics, LuluLocaland ProfessorPoopenshtinken’s Magical Maths. NatWest and HSBC, as well as many specialist lawyers, accountants and consultants will also be there to offer expert services.

As well as the fantastic range of companies taking part, the two day event is packed full of fascinating and educational seminars, providing visitors with an opportunity to find answers to all their questions about franchising.Many of the sessions feature experts from the British Franchise Association (bfa), as well as members of the legal and finance professions, business advisors and franchisors and franchisees, all giving valuable insight to help visitors become successful franchisees.

There are also a series of specialised clinics on site, offering dedicated advice on specific areas of franchising. The Finance Clinic, facilitated by Franchise Finance, will offer one-to-one advice on how to source funding and how to prepare a business plan to help gain finance from the bank. The Careers Clinic is a feature designed to help visitorsestablish their own skills and abilities andwhat kind of franchise would suit them best. At the Expert Advice Clinic, the bfa, lawyers, bankers and business advisors will answer any questions from contract terms to training.

For visitors looking to invest a substantial amount of capital, the High Investment VIP Lounge is set up for them to discuss the opportunities available in a comfortable and discrete environment with complimentary beverages. There are also several dedicated seminars for this type of visitorintegrated into the programme, take a look at www.franchiseinfo.co.uk for more information.

Among the engaging keynote speakers at the exhibition will be Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO and executive chairwoman of The Dwyer Group® which owns brands such asMr. Electric® and Rainbow International® both exhibiting at the event.One of the leading personalities in the franchise industry in America and well–known across the USA as a successful businesswoman, Dina will be sharing her thoughts and advice at the event.

For those considering a career in the food sector, McDonald’s will be holding exclusive Open Sessions providing a unique insight into being part of one of the world’s biggest brandsand its first-class franchisee training programme.

The very popular Real Franchise Stories sessions will offer visitors the chance to hear about franchising from those who have already made a success of it. Franchisees who have recently madethe transition from employee to business owner will encourage visitors with their tales of success and help them with advice.In the Growing Your Own Business Conference impressive entrepreneurs will explain how they developed their businesses and made a success by themselves.

All the companies exhibiting at The National Franchise Exhibition have been approved by the British Franchise Association (bfa).This means that they are operating in line with the association’s strict code of ethics, allowing visitors to take full advantage of the opportunities available with complete peace of mind.

Any visitors concerned about childcare need not worry as The Creation Station, an award winning children’s activity centre franchise,will be there to entertain them and show what it has to offer to franchisees. Under the supervision of a parent or guardian, children will have the opportunity to play and explore a wide range of arts and crafts while a partner or friend explores all the opportunities available.

Adrian Goodsell, Head of Franchise Sales at Venture Marketing Group, organisers of The National Franchise Exhibition,commented; “The National Franchise Exhibition is always an exciting event. There is so much on offer for anyone interested in starting up a franchise. We are looking forward to welcoming a fantastic range of exhibitors this year and helping thousands of visitors on their way to starting a successful career in franchising.”

The National Franchise Exhibition takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on 3 & 4 October 2014. Tickets can be up to £15 on the day; however visitors can gain free entry by registering online in the run up to the show at www.franchiseinfo.co.uk and entering the promotional code NFABDD. For all the latest news follow the exhibition on Twitter; @UKFranchising, join the Franchise Exhibitions Group on LinkedIn or ‘like’ the Franchiseinfopage on Facebook.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The National Franchise Exhibition .