Celebrating 45 Years in Franchising: Charlie Dickson, Franchise Expert

For Charlie Dickson, franchise consultant at Ashtons Franchise Consulting, franchising is more than a career – it’s a lifelong passion. This September, he celebrates an impressive 45-year journey spanning franchisee operations, franchisor leadership, and consultancy.

After graduating in Economics, Charlie secured an Esso franchise for a new service station on the A1 in Edinburgh. Over 18 years, he helped pioneer c-store development at petrol station forecourts, expanding to three stations with convenience stores with sales of £14M p.a., consistently earning recognition for retail innovation, sales and customer service.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brilliant teams who helped create and maintain an award-winning business in a highly competitive market,” he reflects.

An MBA from the University of Edinburgh opened the door to senior franchisor roles, including Regional Franchise Manager at Venture Photography, Managing Director at Farmer Autocare, and Director of Franchise & Network Development at Blackcircles.com. At Blackcircles.com, Charlie spearheaded a franchising strategy that grew the network to over 1,500 partners in six years, creating a high-quality national franchise network and a substantial profit centre.

Since 2017, Charlie has brought this wealth of experience to Ashtons Franchise Consulting, guiding businesses from concept to launch.

Looking back, Charlie is proud of both his personal and professional achievements. “Franchising continues to prove itself as a flexible, energetic, impactful business model – one that offers huge potential for both franchisors and franchisees. I am excited to continue sharing my experience to help businesses grow strategically and at pace through franchising.”

Charlie Dickson, an Affiliate of the British Franchise Association (bfa), brings decades of franchising experience and is always happy to offer guidance.

To explore how Charlie can help grow your business through franchising, reach out via the Ashtons Franchise profile.