Caprice Bourett with EWIF award winners and sponsors.
The Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) awards, which celebrate the success and achievements of women in franchising, have announced this year’s winners at its annual award ceremony.
Caprice Bourett, the founder, designer and chief executive of By Caprice Products was the guest speaker at the event to inspire more women into franchising and to share her own success story.
Andrew Taylor, UK head of leisure, retail and franchise at NatWest, said: “We have been partnering these awards since the very beginning. Over that time, we have been honoured to be able to celebrate some fantastic achievements and examples of inspiring women across the industry.
“Entries for this year’s awards have been of the highest standard – reflecting the true impact that women are having in franchising. The professionalism and achievements of all the nominees is inspiring. They are great examples of the kind of women we have been privileged to work with; women breaking into the industry and taking their futures in their own hands.”
The EWIF award winners for 2016:
Sussanne Chambers, founder of multi-award winning HomeXperts, and EWIF Franchisor of the Year 2016.
Franchisor of the Year
Sussanne Chambers – HomeXperts
Franchisee of the Year
Anne Wainwright – McDonald’s
New Franchisor of the Year
Jenni Dunman – Daisy First Aid
New Franchisee of the Year
Sara Harrison – Angela’s Swim School
Franchise Employee of the Year
Kellie Blake – Rosemary Bookkeeping
Service Provider of the Year
Donna King – Franchise Finance
Young Women in Franchising
Claire Roberts – Magical Maths
Clive Sawyer, chief executive of EWIF commented: “The sixth annual EWIF awards have been bigger than ever. We received a record number of entries and having read through each and every one myself, I was extremely impressed with the achievements of so many women in our sector.
“It is encouraging to see more and more women coming forward to recognise and celebrate their own achievements. Every year we see more women attend and enter the awards and it shows that our cause is continuing to gain traction and momentum.”
EWIF also announced that it is expanding its regional meetings to the Midlands and Fiona Boswell, of Fraser Brown solicitors, will head the meetings.
Boswell said: “The Midlands regional meetings with provide a forum for women to network and gain knowledge, share ideas and forge relationships within the industry. If they are interested in operating a franchise it will be a forum for them to benefit from.
“Franchising is a great move for women who want to run their own business because it provides flexibility and the security and support of a franchisor who has done it all before.”
To find out more about EWIF visit www.ewif.org