Strategy, a boardroom-style team challenge and the Activ Awards 2026 brought the network together for a day franchisees called the highlight of their year.
Activ Marketing, the UK’s longest-running franchise for marketers, brought franchisees and its head office team together at its Cardiff headquarters on 17 September for its Annual Franchise Forum 2026.
Held under the theme “Grow smarter, together”, the forum combined strategy, training, team building and celebration. In feedback gathered afterwards, franchisees gave the day an average overall rating of 9.5 out of 10.
“It’s the one day a year when the whole network is in the same room, and you can feel the difference it makes,” said Katie Bullon, CEO of Activ Marketing. “Our franchisees run their own businesses all year. This is the day they get to see, in person, how many people are behind them.”
Strategy and training for the year ahead
Katie opened the day with a business update covering the network’s direction, client retention and new developments in Activ’s back office and AI layer. Franchisees then took part in training on Activ’s new Marketing Subscription service, which they singled out as one of the most valuable parts of the day.
The forum also introduced a Person of the Month initiative to recognise franchisees’ achievements throughout the year, as well as at the annual awards.
You’re hired
The highest-rated session was Activ’s Apprentice-style team challenge, which scored an average of 9.63 out of 10. Two teams of franchisees and head office staff were each given a fictional business in the morning and asked to build and pitch a full marketing strategy by the afternoon.
Team Head Held High pitched for a counselling service supporting people with stress-induced hair loss, delivering a strong presentation and an outstanding video. Team Down on the Farm Counselling created a tiered support offer for a counselling business serving the farming community.
Both teams faced a judging panel of Katie and Richard Griffin, Activ’s technical support manager, who has been with the business since 2008. After a close decision, Down on the Farm Counselling took the win.
Reece and Lisa Smith, who have been Activ’s North Essex franchisees for 16 years, said the day “brings us together, shows personalities and skills in a positive way that online isn’t possible.”
Celebrating the Activ Awards 2026
The forum closed with the Activ Awards 2026, recognising franchisees for their results over the past year.
Activ Marketing North Essex took home two awards: Highest Revenue Franchise and Most Site Launches. Activ Marketing Basingstoke won Most New Retainers, while Activ Marketing Kingston won Fastest Tech Adoption.
Sian Price, one of the network’s newer franchisees, won Fastest Growing Franchise. She said the award “made me feel valued.”
“Every one of these awards is based on real results, and I’m proud of every franchisee in the room,” said Katie. “Seeing one of our newest franchisees win Fastest Growing Franchise shows what’s possible when you have the right systems and support behind you from the start.”
A better route for freelance marketers and VAs
The forum came shortly after Activ launched Activ Partner, a white-label franchise for freelance marketers and virtual assistants. Partners keep their own brand and clients, with Activ’s delivery team, technology, AI and systems behind them.
For Katie, the forum showed what Activ Partner is designed to give people. Connection was the biggest draw of the day: seven of the eight franchisees who provided feedback named meeting people or the team activities as their favourite part. Every franchisee who had been with Activ for less than three years rated the day 10 out of 10.
“So many freelance marketers and VAs are brilliant at what they do, but they’re carrying everything on their own,” said Katie. “They don’t have anyone to test ideas with, anyone to cover for them, or anyone to take the admin off their plate. You don’t have to do it all alone. There’s a better way, and with our new white-label option, you can keep your brand name and your own clients while you grow.”
Three franchisees have already asked for a session at next year’s forum to share what’s working in their businesses and what isn’t.
“That’s the best feedback we could have had,” said Katie. “When people who already have that support ask for more of it, you know how much it’s worth.”
This article comes courtesy of Activ Marketing, a BFA expanding member, Elite Franchise Top 100 and the UK’s longest-running franchise for marketers.
