January 9 The Prosperity Edition Why compliance at the Sandstone Yoga & Pilates on bfa is critical to the maintaining health & well- success of our industry being across their network Find out about the bfa compliance remit, team structure and why this function is held in such high regard "So we base our culture around an ethos of ‘support & challenge’ because together we are stronger if we are honest, open and supportive about what’s working and what we can all do better." Michelle Nicklin, founder of Sandstone Yoga & Pilates New Member Spotlight: Window to the Womb The bfa speak to Mark Witter on challenges, visions and their proudest moment Preparing for a With entries closing on Friday 8th February, have you got your entry together and ready to go? Read franchise exhibition our key considerations so you're good to go! Also, hear from some of last year's winners on Pip Wilkins, bfa CEO speaks to Kate Dilworth at Right at what their win meant to them and their business Home on how to be best prepared and to understand the importance of a franchise exhibition Legal Issues Five top tips to Specialist Seminar On Thursday 7th February - we bring you a specialist banish stress & seminar on Legal Issues. Turn to page 10 to find out more! build a happy workplace bfa NatWest Franchise Survey 8 gets record Real Franchise Story: initial exposure Road to Really Awesome Coffee Franchising is making waves as the sector goes from What made Henrik Jespersen decide to get into the world of franchising strength to strength bfa HSBC Franchise Awards 9 Entry deadline for franchisors and franchisees: Friday 8th February As we are now on the home straight for entering into this year's Awards, below we give you 5 key considerations that you should take on board before finalising and submitting your entry (or entries)! Franchise Award and Recognition Programmes – 5 Key Considerations It is only natural that in an industry which has seen positive growth now for ten plus years there are a large number of people and organisations looking to benefit from the fruits of its labour. More franchisors are looking to build their networks and with that means more marketing budgets for people to fight for. 1 – The Cost If you are being asked to pay for advertising space as part of a recognition scheme, is it a representative scheme, or just another money making campaign? Advertising is advertising and recognition schemes should provide frameworks to benchmark and identify successful businesses in particular categories or sectors. The assessment process should be transparent and fair for all who engage with it. 2 – The Judges If you are participating in a programme that involves judges it would be wise to know who they are, if they are credible, and importantly that there is no conflict of interest. Do they have industry longevity, breadth of experience and depth of knowledge? And would you trust them with your confidential company information? In addition and shame we have to mention it but does the judging process mentioned actually exist? 3 – The Criteria What is the entry criteria? Is the information you are being asked to provide sufficient for an external party to make a judgement on your business? And if not, how would a cross entry analysis take place? This may seem simple but unfortunately there are examples of franchisors still in their infancy utilising promotional platforms to promote themselves as industry leaders when they have not yet built solid foundations. As we know franchising is a slow and steady race, quick wins are costly and industry recognition that strengthens market place proposition should be earned. 4 – The Process Franchising is a diverse sector and for that reason a credible programme should provide a clear outline of criteria along with any formal supporting evidence required to enable a fair judging process. During the process you should have ample opportunity to share your brand and story and there should be plenty of mechanisms to gather data and insights from the process that will prove beneficial to any supporting PR campaign. 5 – The Return on Investment You have submitted your entry, been shortlisted, possibly attended a finalist presentation and are about to enjoy a wonderful ceremony where you receive your award. That’s all very nice but what happens next? It can be resource heavy to produce a compelling entry that will capture the attention of judges and see you reach the top spot. For that you should benefit from an award that can: 1. set you apart from competition in the industry. 2. Is a proposition strengthening tool in the market place and 3. Provides you an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your network. You should be engaged in a post PR campaign that facilitates exposure you otherwise would not have been able to achieve. The bfa HSBC Franchise Awards 2018 is taking place on 27th June. Click here to book your place(s) to the awards PAGE 01 ceremony! bfa HSBC Franchise Awards 9 Entry deadline for franchisors and franchisees: Friday 8th February Hear from 2018's winners, on what winning meant to them and their business: Gold award for Emerging Franchisor of the Year Franchisor Award "We are extremely pleased to be recognised "Our success is down to the hard work for the Franchisor of the Year award. Not only of our amazing team and successful is it an honour and privilege to receive this franchisees. We've recruited 10 new prestigious award, the win is instrumental in fabulous franchisees so far this year. demonstrating how seriously committed we As the franchising industry is are to our franchisees. The business has becoming more mainstream, and the recently achieved an impressive 12 years of pet industry is growing, we're excited consecutive growth during difficult times for about what the future will bring.” the economy; McDonald’s puts this success - Joanne White, Founder and down to listening to its customers, people, and Company Director of franchisees, investing in what matters to them We Love Pets most and delivering freshly prepared, great tasting food at an affordable price.” - Abel Campos, Head of Franchising & Field Services at McDonald’s Lifestyle & Franchisee of the Year “We are extremely proud and delighted to win this category. For our achievements to be recognised by the bfa is the pinnacle of our Multi-unit franchise journey to date. This award is Franchisee Award recognition for a team of 20 inspiring team members and over 500 amazing young people "Goldex and I are very grateful to be giving their all, week in week out, and going awarded as winners of the bfa Multi- above and beyond to create something quite unit Franchisee category; I would like special. Emily and I would like to say a huge to thank all my team at Goldex, thank you to them all. Thank you also to the bfa without whom this would not be for this wonderful platform and opportunity. I am possible. The bfa award is the biggest overwhelmed to also win the People's Choice accolade to win in our field and we are Award and I am taking this back for our team very proud winners." and everybody at Medway. Without them all - Diljit Brar, Managing Director of none of this would be possible.” Goldex Investments & Costa - Hayley Limpkin, franchisee The bfa HSBC Franchise Razzamataz - Medway Awards 2018 is taking place on 27th June. Click here to book your place(s) to the awards PAGE 02 ceremony! Sandstone Yoga & Pilates promoting positivity at home and in the work place With January seeming to never end, we speak to Michelle Nicklin, founder of Sandstone Yoga & Pilates on how she retains her and her networks health and wellbeing. Michelle has been practicing yoga for over 30 years, so she knows a thing or two about inner peace! How do you beat the ‘January Blues’ to stay driven? Here are my top tips to keep myself driven well into the long January: · Clear out clutter (emotionally & physically). It is good to start a new year lighter in many ways, get rid of the baggage all round. · Don’t take on too many resolutions. Change one thing at a time & make sure you maintain that for 30 days to ensure the habit stands. · Try one day a week as a vegetarian & without caffeine. Get creative with your recipes, there is so much variety out there now. How do you maintain well-being in the workplace? We encourage all of our studio owners to keep up their yoga & meditation practice. I have trained many yoga teachers over the years whose own well- being suffers when they start to take on too much. You cannot feed others if you are hungry yourself. We encourage all of our studio owners to take a break from work during the day & have established a good network of support with our studio angels. We encourage studio owners to support each other. Our first three studio owners have become friends & socialise with each other. I know they never feel truly alone as I know my HQ team go above & beyond for our franchisees. We respect each other’s time & love our own time away from our businesses so we stay healthy & refreshed to serve our clients. We encourage studio owners to have holidays & help them plan for this by recruiting the right people around them who can maintain our high standards. In what ways does Sandstone Yoga & Pilates build a happy work culture? First and foremost Sandstone is a business. But we are underpinned by very strong values, culture and ethics, partly because of the business we are in.