Posted:04-February-2009
BFA FRANCHISOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2009
Franchising industry set to show others how they look to ensure a strong future
Official Government figures released this month have confirmed that the UK is now in recession for the first time since 1991, meaning it’s going to prove a testing time for business in 2009. However, some UK businesses remain resilient across many industries and the franchising industry seems to be weathering the storm.
The British Franchise Association’s (bfa) ‘Franchisor of the Year Awards’, sponsored by Express Newspapers and HSBC, announces that it is now open for entries. The awards aims to show that even during an economic downturn there are still success stories in business; with the franchising industry set to show others how they look to ensure a strong future.
These annual awards aim to recognise and promote the best in franchising, providing extensive opportunities to raise the profile of those that enter and reward them for leading the way in an industry already growing year on year.
Sir Bernard Ingham, president of the bfa and chairman of the judges for the awards said: “This year the awards are being conducted against a very difficult economic background and this year's theme "Today's Foundations for Tomorrow's Success" will underline the sound work done in the past and what is being done now in a recession to ensure future success. “
“Franchisors are under many pressures, which include ensuring the future of its entire network. They hold in their hands the livelihoods of many individual business owners and securing their future demands foresight, acumen and investment.”
The Express Newspapers Brand Builder of the Year Award and the HSBC Award for Enterprise sit alongside the bfa awards to celebrate further how businesses today are still investing and working hard to improve business.
Geraldine Haenow, advertising group head at the Express Newspapers explains, “The Express Newspapers Brand Builder of the Year Award recognises franchisors that have found the most innovative and effective ways of building, developing, promoting, and adding value to their brands during the last 12 months in a way that has benefited the core business and everyone involved in the franchise network.”
Cathryn Hayes, head of franchising at HSBC says, “The HSBC Award for Enterprise is specifically aimed at recognising those franchisors who have developed creative business strategies to overcome challenges that would otherwise hinder growth and development, or who have established more effective ways of running their business to ensure long term sustainability; inspiring all those working within the franchise network.”
With entries being taken from bfa member franchisors until the 16th March the bfa is expecting to see some fantastic examples of how franchising continues to buck the trend of this weakened market. For more information contact the bfa via its website at www.thebfa.org.
