British Franchise Association (BFA)
National Franchise Week and World Franchise Day: Two Groundbreaking Initiatives to Celebrate and Educate Franchising’s Impact in the UK
The BFA (British Franchise Association) are hosting two major initiatives in June 2025 to raise the awareness of UK franchising.
World Franchise Day on the 11th June will be celebrated by National Franchise Associations across the globe to raise the awareness of franchising as a successful business model. A week later (16th – 20th June) the BFA will celebrate National Franchise Week with a focus on the five pillars of wellbeing.
Since 1977, the (BFA) British Franchise Association has led the way in responsible franchising in the UK, helping people and businesses grow through expert education, high standards, and practical support. Under its strapline ‘Discover Your Tomorrow’ the BFA helps aspiring franchisees find the right opportunity.
UK Franchising Facts
According to the BFA’s most recent National Franchise Survey sponsored by NIC Local[i], there are over 1,000 franchise systems in the UK, with more than 50,000 franchise units providing employment for over 770,000 people. These franchises contribute £19.1 billion to the UK economy with a less than 1% commercial failure rate[ii].
World Franchise Day
World Franchise Day on 11th June 2025 will see the global franchise sector come together to raise awareness about franchising’s significant role in local economies and communities. The BFA will be providing an educational toolkit for franchisors, franchisees, advisors and suppliers to access to show their support and help put franchising in the spotlight.
National Franchise Week
During National Franchise Week in the UK, the BFA will be teaming up with mental health trainer Cinder, to encourage the UK’s franchise sector to raise funds for charity, address mental health and wellbeing issues and volunteer in their local communities under the headings of: Move, Learn, Connect, Be Present and Give back. There will also be two ‘in person’ events, EWIB (Empowering Women in Business) and a Franchise Wellbeing Retreat.
National Franchise Wellbeing Survey
In May, mental health trainer and specialist franchise consultancy, Cinder, launched a National Franchise Wellbeing Survey; its results, which will allow senior leaders to better understand the mental health outlook of the UK franchising sector, will be revealed during National Franchise Week.
Jen Chapman-Boffin, founder of Cinder, said: “Developing and maintaining wellbeing within franchising is more than just a nice-to-have, it’s essential to the longevity and the consistent success of franchisees and the franchise brand as a whole. We’ve created the first National Franchise Wellbeing Survey to build an accurate picture of the wellbeing landscape across franchising, to evolve the future of industry-wide support and we hope this initiative will bring attention to the state of mental health in the UK franchising sector.”
National Franchise Week Agenda
The week will follow a themed structure for all UK franchise brands to take part in:
Monday 16 June – MOVE – a day dedicated to exercise and raising funds, whilst tracking movement through Strava
Tuesday 17 June – LEARN – a day of virtual wellbeing masterclasses, designed for franchise professionals, led by BFA members
Wednesday 18 June – CONNECT – at EWIB (Empowering Women in Business) – hear from powerful speakers and network with like-minded businesswomen
Thursday 19 June – BE PRESENT – a day dedicated to self-care including mindful workshops, stress reduction techniques and strategic wellness planning, at the Franchise Wellbeing Retreat
Friday 20 June – GIVE BACK – from volunteering to donating to foodbanks – the franchise sector will be encouraged to get involved in their local communities and make a difference.
Ground-breaking events
CEO of the BFA Pip Wilkins QFP said: “It truly feels as if franchising is reaching the main stage with these brand-new, awareness-raising days in June 2025. We are delighted to join our franchising colleagues across the world on the 11th of June 2025 to share franchising success”.
She continued: “Later in the month, we’re looking forward to our own National Franchise Week, which will include activities for all franchisors to get behind and will include EWIB (Empowering Women in Business) and Franchise Wellbeing Retreat days. It is truly a privilege to work at the heart of the UK franchising sector in 2025 and my team and I are delighted to be backing these new initiatives, and we look forward to full participation across the franchise sector.”
To find out how more about the BFA, visit their profile.
[i] https://www.thebfa.org/product/the-british-franchise-journal-2024/
[ii] https://www.experianplc.com/newsroom/press-releases/2023/half-of-all-new-businesses-fail-within-three-years-of-opening
