Get face-to-face with franchising at Birmingham’s NEC, the only event supported by the British Franchise Association (BFA).
On Friday 1 & Saturday 2 October, The National Franchise Exhibition will once again open its doors to budding entrepreneurs, aspiring multi-unit franchisees and the franchisors of tomorrow at the first in-person franchise event for nearly two years.
Attendees will have the opportunity to get to know the teams behind over 100 leading franchise brands, including Tutor Doctor, Visiting Angels, Platinum Property Partners, Camile Thai Kitchen, easyStorage, Home Instead, IWG and many more.
Opportunities to get out on the road with a new business will be found in the Vehicle-based Showcase, while the Low-cost Showcase will gather together franchise offerings with investment levels starting from under £10,000. From management to hands-on, premises-based to working from home – there will be a franchise to suit all budgets, interests and ambitions.
Education and practical advice
To help attendees take the next steps on their franchise journey, the event will offer access to a wealth of inspiration, education and practical advice – all under one roof.
The National Franchise Exhibition is exclusively supported by the BFA, who will deliver a series of independent seminars to provide a gateway to the industry. Sessions include ‘An introduction to franchising’, ‘How to evaluate franchise opportunities’ and ‘Taking your next steps in franchising’.
These invaluable presentations sit within an extensive programme of over 60 free educational presentations and workshops covering all aspects of franchising. Gain an in-depth insight into franchise trends, learn more about specific franchise models and discover the level of support you can expect as a franchisee during franchisor-led seminars.
Funding experts Hitachi Capital Franchise Finance will deliver practical advice on creating a finance-winning business plan during workshop sessions, while HSBC will share their top tips for securing funding.
Attendees will also benefit from first-hand accounts from successful franchisees who have ‘been there, done that.’ During the Real Franchise Stories Q&A sessions taking place on each day of the event, attendees will learn why panellists chose to invest, what they have learnt along the way, and their top tips for prospective investors.
Saturday’s visitors will be treated to a Keynote presentation by Tommy Nevin, one of Scotland’s most successful franchise investors. Over the past six years he has built up a portfolio of EE and BT Local franchises and he has recently announced a new partnership with IWG, a leading provider of flexible workspaces. During his presentation ‘Change your life through franchising – my story’, he will share his top 10 tips for success.
Existing franchise operators with ambitions to follow in Tommy’s footsteps will gain invaluable insights from the Multi-unit Franchise Conference, sponsored by HSBC, co-located with the exhibition.
Exclusively for franchisees, this industry-leading event provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from and mingle with highly successful multi-unit franchisees and industry leaders. Brands represented at the conference include Pret a Manger, Home Instead, Starbucks, itsu, Pizza Hut and many more. Pre-booking essential – email multiunit@vmgl.com for more details.
All attendees will be able to tap into a wealth of expert advice from industry professionals. Advisors at the event include specialist lawyers, funding providers, careers experts, franchise consultants and the BFA – all offering complimentary one-to-one advice.
Tracy Shah, Senior Commercial Director at Venture Marketing Group, the event organisers, comments:
“The National Franchise Exhibition has helped thousands of visitors find their perfect franchise opportunity. This year’s event promises to be equally successful.
“We are delighted to be back at the NEC to showcase leading franchise brands alongside unparalleled educational content to help aspiring business-owners to unlock the potential of this lucrative business model.
We have worked hard with the venue to ensure that the necessary measures are in place to provide visitors with a comfortable and controlled environment to facilitate those all-important conversations that form the beginning of any successful partnership.”
For the first time, this year’s National Franchise Exhibition will be a hybrid event. After the physical event at the NEC, Birmingham on 1 & 2 October, visitors will have access to exclusive online content during a virtual event from 3 – 6 October. Highlights include further live educational seminars delivered by the BFA, downloadable resources and on-demand video content.
Tickets to the event are free, but must be pre-booked online to ensure easy entry. For more information about what’s going on and to book your free ticket, visit FranchiseInfo.co.uk.