The BFA has announced the launch of its latest national franchise survey and for the first time it is sponsored by a franchisor, NIC Services, the provider of commercial cleaning services.
As in previous years, the survey will reveal important facts and figures of the UK franchise sector, such as its contribution to the UK’s GDP (gross domestic product) and the profitability of franchisees. The survey is due to be published in January 2024.
The sponsors, NIC Services, have been members of the BFA since 2006 and its group chairman, John Spencer, is a former board member and Chairman of the BFA from 2018 to 2022.
Spencer said he believes good data is a key component of making a sound business decision: “Whilst building my business, I found the BFA national franchise survey to be an important source of up-to-date information on the sector and I am proud that NIC will now be the main sponsor of this important body of work.”
The survey will be undertaken every other year to give the sector a regular picture of the UK franchising scene.
Pip Wilkins, chief executive of the BFA, said: “We could not be more delighted to announce the return of the BFA national franchise survey and our enormous thanks to sponsors NIC Services without whom we could not bring this crucial information to the franchise sector and the wider British public.
“The survey is a vital tool to promote and protect franchising in the UK. Its results support the entire sector, allowing franchisors to demonstrate the success of franchising to potential franchisees and encouraging successful business owners to consider franchising their business as a route to growth and success.
“Since our last survey in 2018 we have had the Covid pandemic and now, the cost-of-living crisis, so it is going to be very interesting to see what the survey reveals, and we very much hope the news will reflect the strength, profitability, flexibility and dynamism of the sector we know and love.”