The British Franchise Association (bfa) has announced the names of the finalists for the bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards 2012.
The finalists are as follows:
London/South East
Liz Dillon, Antal International (Essex)
Carl Belle, Belvoir Lettings (Essex)
Gurpreet (Gee) Bains, Driver Hire (London)
Daniel Bowyer, Dyno – Rod Plumbing and Drains (Norwich)
South West/South Wales
Robert Schuler, Barking Mad (Somerset)
Ron Mounsey, McDonald’s restaurants (Stonehouse)
Sedge Gooding, Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs (Reading)
Midlands/North Wales
Steven Prime, Esquires Coffee Houses (Coventry)
Barbara and Ian Roberts, Merry Maids (Stafford)
North
Luke Norbury, Home Instead Senior Care (York)
Eve Kay, Jo Jingles (Cheshire)
Malcolm Lant, Signs Express (Gateshead)
Scotland/Norhtern Ireland
Keith Ellwood, Autosmart (Edinburgh)
Gabriel McGeown, Card Connection (County Antrim)
Andrew Gibson, McDonald’s (Glasgow)
Representing a variety of sectors from diet and fitness clubs to dog sitting services, the 15 finalists have been selected from five different regions for their dedication to each industry.
A franchisee from each district will receive a £500 prize, while the overall winner will be awarded £5,000.
Following interviews with the judging panel, the winners are to be announced at the NEC in Birmingham on Thursday 4 October.
Brian Smart, director general of bfa, feels that singling out winners is set to prove a challenge: “Each year the sheer number of high calibre entrants from the UK never ceases to amaze me.
“With a multitude of sectors being represented, from global restaurant chains to local toddler football groups, the finalists have all shown a high level of integrity, entrepreneurialism and community commitment - making the next phase of judging very difficult.”