APRIL 2017
Scottish Franchise Week returns to Glasgow
n The British Franchise Association’s (bfa) Scottish Franchise Week, taking place between 24 and 28 April, is returning to Glasgow for the 2017 franchise event. The fi rst two days will host a series of networking and educational events in various locations across the city, while the rest of the week will highlight the successes and opportunities available within franchising on the bfa’s online channels and platforms. On Tuesday 25 April, a Prospective Franchisee Seminar will take place at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, and a Prospective Franchisor Seminar will be held at Harper Macleod LLP. Visitors attending these talks will be able to gain an insight into the franchising industry from experts and learn more about completing due diligence.
The bfa will host its annual Business
Breakfast the following day, featuring this year’s keynote speaker, Scottish entrepreneur Josh Littlejohn. CEO and co- founder of Social Bite, a sandwich shop chain that donates all profi ts to charity, Josh employs a workforce that is partially made up of formerly homeless people.
Comment What are the advantages of becoming a franchisee?
When it comes to choosing a new lifestyle or a new career, many people think they have to go it alone and may overlook the safest opportunity of going into business via a well- established franchise system. I have spoken to many people who have wanted to make the change but have been held back by job security and fear of the unknown. However, once they make the decision to go ahead with a proven formula, they have never looked back. One couple I know, who used to own a greengrocers, wanted only to have a business that would allow them to take family holidays. Once they sold their greengrocers and invested in a franchise, it gave them more fl exibility and allowed them to have a great work-life balance. Another man I knew, who had faced
redundancy on more than one occasion, looked for a franchise, as he wanted to be in charge of his own destiny. He is now a thriving franchisee with a great future ahead and uses his past experiences to ensure his business is safe and secure. A police offi cer who took early
retirement knew that a franchise would fi t the bill as he was used to following systems. Being part of a franchise was a fantastic choice for him – so much so, his wife has also took early retirement and has joined him in the business, making it a real family aff air. They intend to grow a solid business that will stand the test of time and hand it over to their children when the time is right. To be successful requires hard work, determination and commitment. But if you put the eff ort in and follow a franchise system, the rewards are there.
Last year saw the launch of The Social Bite Academy, the UK’s fi rst skills and employment course for homeless people. A panel consisting of franchisees and franchisors will be introduced to this year’s Business Breakfast. The session will give attendees the chance to hear from people on both sides of the industry and have their questions answered. Following the Business Breakfast, the bfa will hold a forum to discuss the latest topics within franchising in Scotland and further afi eld.
The seminars and the forum are free to attend for Scottish residents and tickets for the Business Breakfast are £20. Visit
www.thebfa.org/SFW to fi nd out more about Scottish Franchise Week.
DID YOU KNOW
DID YOU KNOW
?
At least 44,000 UK businesses are
franchisee-owned ?
Josh Littlejohn
Source: bfa/NatWest Franchise Survey 2015
Carol Stewart-Gill is the founder of Dublcheck, a management franchise that provides commercial cleaning services
April 2017 |
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