63 voluntary comments were received and the results showed overwhelming support. 47.5% of respondents favoured teaching franchising at both school and university, 35% supported university instruction only, and 13.3% preferred school level instruction. Only 4.2% believed the subject should be learned through industry experience.
In response to the clear mandate, the BFA announced the development of an educational resources toolkit for use in schools, colleges and universities.
Pip Wilkins, chief executive of the BFA, said, “It is clear that something needs to be done and we cannot wait for the curriculum to include franchising, so we must create something ourselves. In an age where young people are hugely entrepreneurial, it is important that they know there is a safer way to successful self,employment. Therefore, I am delighted to announce today that we will be launching our own educational resources toolkit.”
Wilkins added that the kit will contain lesson structures, case study videos, fact sheets, quizzes, posters and stickers to raise awareness of franchising among young people.
Suhail Rehman, founder and director at SUR Group, said, “Franchising was the best career advice I never had at school. I came to franchising in my 40s. If I had known about it earlier, I would have come in much earlier. I now tell my kids about it and will not have them enter business any other way. I recently shared my franchising journey with a class of third,year university students. The lecturer told me the feedback was incredible and many had stated it was the most interesting and informative guest lecture they had ever had. The interest certainly exists once we can share the word about franchising.”
Liam Hobbs, owner of More Than Loft Ladders, explained, “At 22 I set up my own business. I was very good at what I was doing, but not so good at running a business. After 18 months I had a tax bill I could not pay. Had I been educated about franchising, I firmly believe I would have taken the franchise route, with the support it offers.”
The 2024 British Franchise Survey, sponsored by NIC Local, reported that franchising contributes £19.1 billion to the UK economy, supports over 770,000 jobs and has a commercial failure rate of less than 6%, compared with a 50% failure rate for all startups. The BFA toolkit aims to embed this economic potential into the education system.
