One of the biggest and best business opportunities of the year takes place with the launch of the Scottish Franchise Week (10-14 May).
Franchising contributes more than £800 million a year to the Scottish economy and is responsible for creating more than 30,000 jobs.
While many industry sectors suffered during the recession around 90 per cent of franchisees reported a profit, including 80 per cent of those in their first two years of operation.
“Franchising is a real growth industry and the number of brands and number of franchises has continued to grow steadily for a number of years.” said Tom Endean, a spokesman for the British Franchising Association
“Part of this is a result of the robust nature of the franchising model. The ability to operate as a local business with understanding and commitment to the area and people, combined with the national support systems and brand, has allowed many franchises to remain viable, secure and successful businesses even in tough times.”
Scottish Franchise Week, sponsored by Moreland Insurance, aims to raise the profile of franchising in Scotland as a tried and tested way to start a business, create jobs and build sustainable wealth for the national economy.
The week is due to start with a special conference in Glasgow at which franchise experts will meet with education specialists from government, schools and colleges to exchange ideas on how future generations can be made aware of the opportunities franchising allows.
The Scottish Forum of the British Franchise Association will also hold a special reception at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 12 May to bring together key industry contacts and MSPs to help promote franchising as an important corner-stone of future business growth.
The week culminates in the Scottish Business Breakfast at The Hilton hotel in Glasgow on Friday 14 May where more than 350 guests are expected to network with like-minded people and hear from key-note speakers on the advantages of such a successful business model which accounts for around 4,000 new franchises in the UK every year.
Franchising is a growth industry. The total revenue, number of brands and number of franchisees has grown steadily over recent years and now accounts for more than 467,000 jobs across the UK and an annual UK turnover in excess of £11.4 billion
Franchising is often a comparatively straight forward route into business for many people who may have always wanted to be their own boss but want the support of a bigger, tried and tested organisation behind them.
