British Franchise of the year awards open for entries

Now in their 25th year, the Awards provide franchisees an opportunity to receive recognition for their business drive, determination and achievements.

The brand new categories for the bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards are as follows:

The bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Award- is given to the UK’s most outstanding franchisee, selecting the overall winner from the winners of the six categories below

Award for Franchisee Customer Service – recognises excellence in customer care, identifying the franchisees that have gone above and beyond to deliver exemplary service to their customer base

Young Franchisee of the Year Award– identifies the country’s pioneering young franchisees. The category is for those under the age of thirty and will celebrate the triumphs and enterprising nature of the nation’s young talent

Micro-Business of the Year Award– This award will showcase the excellent business practice carried out by the country’s smaller franchises. Mobile and home-based businesses run by a single operator or a couple are eligible for this category

Female Franchisee of the Year Award– champions the commitment and drive present in female franchisees across the country whose passion and skill makes them stand out from the crowd

Olderpreneur Franchisee of the Year– celebrates franchisees whose wealth of experience is evident in the success of their franchises. This award provides an opportunity for franchisees over the age of 55 to celebrate the ways in which they have used their knowledge and expertise to create new avenues of growth for their business

B2B Franchisee of the Year – This award will recognise the franchisees operating in a business-to-business environment. It will commend franchisees who can demonstrate how they have leveraged their relationships and expertise to create a profitable business delivering high-quality service, products and savings to their clients.

Janis Anderson of Caremark was last year’s winner of the bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Award, and the Female Franchisee of the Year. Commenting on her success, Janis said: “It is fantastic to be recognised for all the hard work which contributes towards Caremark’s success, especially at such a prestigious level.”

Franchisors have until 28  May to nominate franchisees, before finalists are invited for interviews with the judging panel in July. The winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at Birmingham Town Hall on 2 October 2014.

Brian Smart, Director General, bfa aid: “The bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards provide the bfa with the perfect platform to celebrate the individuals making a difference and progressing in the industry. They celebrate the forward-thinking business practices carried out by the country’s most impressive franchisees. We urge franchisors to nominate their favourite franchisees so their successes can be celebrated at a national level.”

Cathryn Hayes, Head of Franchising at HSBC, said: “Every year the standard we see from the finalists astounds us. The franchisees recognised in these awards are achieving extraordinary results and deserve the recognition these accolades provide. These awards celebrate franchisees who are not only performing exceptionally well, but are recognised for their outstanding attitudes by their peers and colleagues. HSBC is delighted to be supporting the awards, now in their 25th year, and we are excited to hear about all the innovative ways franchisees are pushing their businesses forward at this year’s awards.”

For further information, visit[ilink url=”http://www.thebfa.org”]www.thebfa.org[/ilink]