A UK franchising business has chosen the winner of a competition to win a free franchise opportunity.
Children’s party company Kids Bee Happy chose Norfolk-based mother Susan Fear to become its sixth franchisee after considering applications from a high quality shortlist.
Designed to support Global Entrepreneurship Week this week, Kids Bee Happy – which runs sand art workshops at children’s parties – launched the competition to empower a potential entrepreneur who was alienated by the cost of starting a business.
Alistair Patterson, director of Kids Bee Happy, said: “We talk to people daily that really want to run their own business. They have huge amounts of enthusiasm, skills and knowledge, but simply lack that start-up capital needed to get going.
“We decided that as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week we would provide that funding to one person by giving them a franchise package completely free of charge, and help them make that change to their life and start their own business.”
He added: “Initiatives like Global Entrepreneurship Week are really important. They raise awareness and help people old and young realise that the business world isn’t an exclusive club for men in grey suits with marketing degrees. Anyone can get out there and run their own business.”
New franchisee Fear will now receive a franchise package, which will include free accounting advice and support from CheapAccounting.co.uk, before launching her business career at the Business Startup show at Earls Court today.
Mother-of-three Fear said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have won the free children’s franchise – it’s a dream come true.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to be able to run my own business, to feel the buzz of my own success, to spread a little happiness to others – especially children – and to do all this feeling that not only can I work it around my family, they can actually be part of it too.”