National Franchise Exhibition - Show Showcasing the Industry

THE NATIONAL FRANCHISE EXHIBITION: SHOWCASING THE INDUSTRY

Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2009
NEC, Birmingham

www.franchiseinfo.co.uk

According to the annual Natwest / BFA survey, franchising contributed £11.4 billion to the country's GDP in 2008 and was one of the few sectors that has held its own throughout the past year. The National Franchise Exhibition, the UK's largest franchise event, will provide aspiring business owners with a comprehensive snapshot into the prospering industry on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2009, at the NEC Birmingham.

A must for anyone looking for their next career challenge, the exhibition offers the most diverse range of proven franchises, and an opportunity for potential and existing entrepreneurs to learn everything they need to know about franchising. Whether looking to franchise an existing company, or becoming a franchisee, the event will be the ideal one-stop shop for anyone's business needs.

With more than 150 local and international exhibitors anticipated, the exhibition promises to be the most comprehensive to date. So far, confirmed exhibitors include Agency Express, Belvoir, Cash Generator, ChipsAway, Computer Xplorers, Diet Care, Ecoclean, Energie Fitness, Global Travel, Go-Kart Party, McDonalds, Mobi Typre, Papa John's, Prestige Nursing, Snappy Snaps, Subway, Venture and WPA.

"People are really starting to take notice that franchising offers a much greater chance for success than independent start ups. In the current climate we are anticipating a healthy number of visitors ready and willing to invest in the wide variety of opportunities that will be able to help them start their own successful business," said Mike Seaman, Franchise Portfolio Manager at Venture Marketing Group, organisers of The National Franchise Exhibition.

The extensive conference programme at the National Franchise Exhibition is enhanced this year with a number of new franchise-related topics including high level investment franchising; franchise resales; management in franchising; hands-on franchising and couples in franchising. These join the popular women in franchising and Growing Your Own Business sessions. The British Franchise Association (bfa) seminars will also address the key issues of trends, benefits and challenges associated with franchising.

Other features at the exhibition include The Franchise Starting Point, based on the Business Franchise Magazine stand, which will be dedicated to helping visitors completely new to the concept of franchising learn the basics of the business model; and the ever-popular Franchisee Panel, that offers visitors the opportunity to hear from franchisees about their success, failures and transition periods from employee to a self-employed franchise owner.

An impressive list of successful entrepreneurs and specialist advisers will share their expertise in the Growing Your Own Business seminars. Discussing all aspects of business that an entrepreneur needs to know to be successful, from how to raise finance to marketing, the Growing Your Own Business programme will explore all elements of business.

The National Franchise Exhibition is exclusively supported by the bfa and only features franchise companies that have met the Association's code of ethics. This means visitors can be confident in the franchise opportunities presented to them as they are an ethical entity within the UK market.

The exhibition is open from 10am each day, closing at 5pm on Friday 2 October and 4pm on Saturday 3 October. To register for The National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham, call +44 (0)844 257 8668 or visit www.franchiseinfo.co.uk or www.sme-events.com. Callers can purchase tickets by credit card for £8 each or £7 each for two or more. Admission on the door is £13.

How to get there:
• Rail: The nearest station is Birmingham International. This station is easily accessible from all over the U.K. and is only 10-15 minutes by train from Birmingham New Street. Virgin Trains operate a fast and frequent half-hourly shuttle service between London Euston and Birmingham International.
• Road: The NEC is situated in close proximity to the M40, M42, M5, M6 and M1. On arrival, visitors have access to extensive parking facilities.
• Air: The NEC is directly opposite Birmingham International Airport.
Future Events:

• The Irish Franchise Exhibition, RDS, Dublin 20 & 21 November 2009
• The British Franchise Exhibition and the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference, Manchester Central, Manchester, 29 & 30 January 2010
• The British & International Franchise Exhibition and Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference, Olympia, London, 19 & 20 March 2010
• The Scottish Franchise Showcase, Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, Glasgow, 4 June 2010

For further press information or photography, please contact
Mel Wilson or Chris Lewis at The National Franchise Exhibition and
Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference Press Office,
Clareville Communications, 315-317 New Kings Road,
London, SW6 4RF,
Tel: 020 7736 4022, Fax 020 7736 3504, e-mail: melwilson@clareville.co.uk