The National Franchise Exhibition will open tomorrow with a speech from Nigel Griffiths, the small business minister, as over 200 franchise exhibitors descend on Birmingham in preparation for the event.
Griffths, who pulled out of the last British Franchise Association (BFA) exhibition in April, has confirmed that his will appear at the latest gathering of UK franchisors to give a speech on the franchising industry and to open the vent.
Griffiths said: “The UK franchise industry generates £9.5 billion a year and is a significant facilitator of growing business trend and opportunities for the UK entrepreneur.
“The government is committed to supporting UK small firms and we see franchising as key to its continuing success,” he said.
The BFA hopes to build on a successful international exhibition in April, which attracted over 12,500 exhibitors and potential franchisees, with many entrepreneurs signing up to run their own franchise.
The exhibition, which will also feature over 35 business support organisations, hopes to draw a large crowd of people who may have thought about running their own franchise.
The industry is currently in good shape, despite the economic downturn, with a staggering 99 per cent of franchised businesses succeeding – far above the survival rates of other small firms.
John Hancock, of VMG Ltd, which is helping to organise the event, said: “The UK franchise industry is delighted to welcome a minister of the UK government for the first time to its annual gathering.
“It is a true reflection of the value of the sector to the UK economy and the opportunities it offers the UK entrepreneur,” he said.
