2024 Judges

Andrew Markou

CEO and Founder of BusinessesForSale.com

Andrew co-founded BusinessesForSale.com back in the late 1990’s, which given the pace of change since then very much feels like the last century.

Anita has been a banker in HSBC for over 30 years having worked in retail banking in a number of senior positions before moving to commercial banking in support roles in both the Business Banking and Mid-Market arena and finally as a Relationship Manager in the Business Banking team before joining the Franchise Team in early 2019.

Carl Reader

Chairman, d&t chartered accountants and strategic advisors

Carl Reader is chairman at multi-award winning franchise accounting firm d&t and author of The Franchising Handbook. He has previously served as Affiliate Chair and Board Member at the British Franchise Association.

Chris Roberts QFP

Franchise and Funding Professional Mentor, Trainer and Consultant

An experienced qualified franchise and funding professional, providing a variety of services.

Clive Sawyer

Founder, EWIF Encouraging Women Into Franchising

Clive Sawyer is the Managing Director of Business Options and founder of the non for profit Encouraging Women into Franchising organisation (EWiF).

Dale Ward

Franchise Partner Director, Worldpay from FIS

Dale started his career within the franchise industry working for Cartridge World and Domino’s followed by a move into the corporate world with HSBC.

Dani Peleva

Founder & CEO | Franchise Fame

Dani is the founder and CEO of the award-winning franchise marketing agency Franchise Fame.

Emily Price QFP

Chief Operating Officer, British Franchise Association

Emily started her corporate career working alongside the Barclaycard HR Senior Leadership Team focusing on global business transformation projects before joining the British Franchise Association in 2013.

Fiona Boswell QFP

QFP Franchise Specialist partner Knights Plc

Fiona is a partner at Knights Plc and has many years experience in advising businesses on franchising and in particular on setting up, managing, growing and exiting franchise networks.

Gillian Morris

UK Head of Franchising, HSBC UK

Gillian has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector and was appointed as UK Head of Franchising, HSBC UK in January 2022.

Louise Y Harris QFP

Founder, Franchise Projects

Louise works with franchisors to professionalise and breathe life into their operations manuals. She is well known in the industry, with experience in franchising is as a franchisee, award-winning franchisor and now advisor in the franchise industry.

Lucy Archer QFP

Co-founder, Rev PR

Lucy is the co-founder of specialist franchise PR agency, Rev PR and has over a decade of experience in franchising. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the Public Relations and Communications Association and holds Qualified Franchise Professional status with the bfa.

Mark Scott

Managing Director, Azura

Mark Scott is a very experienced franchise professional with 24 years of industry experience.

Natalia Shvarts

Director, Franchising Team, Beyond Corporate

Natalia is a franchise lawyer with over 14 years’ experience and is Director of franchising at Beyond Corporate, a specialist practice of Beyond Law Group. Pragmatic and with a can-do attitude, Natalia adopts a “thinking outside of the box” approach to problem solving and is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals.

Nick Carnes

Managing Partner, PartnerWise Franchise.

My commercial career spans over 25 years with the last dozen founding and building PartnerWise Franchise.

Nicola Broadhurst

Commercial partner at Stevens & Bolton

Nicola is a commercial partner at Stevens & Bolton heading up its franchise and ESG practice with over 20 years of franchise legal experience. She provides the full range of advice to franchisors and franchisees from set up, expansion (domestic and international) and exit options.

Paul Clegg

Managing Director, Coconut Creatives

Having been involved in franchising for over 12 years, Paul Clegg is more than qualified to join the Elite Franchise 100 judging panel. He has become a voice of authority through the franchises he has worked with, both in the past and as managing director of Coconut Creatives.

Paul Stafford QFP

Head of Franchise Marketing, Chantry Group

Paul advises franchisors on their franchise recruitment strategy, budget and tactics to ensure they’re getting the biggest bang for their marketing buck. He also creates and implements customer marketing campaigns as well as helping franchisors to promote existing franchises for sale.

Phil Mowat

Managing Consultant, Ashtons Franchise Consulting

Phil has been in franchising for nearly 15 years, entering the industry to franchise the family business, a hair and makeup artist booking agency. He’s also worked for global franchisors ActionCOACH and Expense Reduction Analysts. He’s now the Managing Consultant for Ashtons Franchise Consulting helping other business owners to grow via franchising.

Phillip Archer

Head of Business Planning & Funding, d&t

Head of Commercial, Phillip Archer, at award winning accountancy firm d&t, has a wealth of expertise within the finance and franchise industries.

Pip Wilkins QFP

Chief Executive, British Franchise Association

With more than 20 years’ experience in the franchise sector, Pip has extensive knowledge from all areas of the bfa business and the franchise industry. She is well-known and highly regarded in franchising for her dedication and depth of knowledge.

Roz Goldstein

Senior Consultant, PartnerWise Franchise

Roz Goldstein has spent most of her career as a franchise specialist solicitor, advising franchisors and franchisees on the development of their businesses.

Sarah Kelly

Founder : LOVE your MIND

For the past 30 years, Sarah has led and transformed franchise businesses worldwide.

Sean Goldsmith

Co-Founder of Groe Global

From launching the world's first international franchising podcast, ‘The Franchise Success Formula’ to serving on the board of the British Franchising Association, Sean has been a passionate supporter of franchising and how it can help uplift whole communities.