The awards also reflect how successful franchising has been in the UK – the most recent British Franchise Survey in 2024, sponsored by NIC Local, stating that franchising contributes £19.1 billion to the UK economy and has had a less than 6% failure rate for over 20 years.
Time to reflect
Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA said: “It is with true excitement that we launch the awards. Anecdotally we know what a fantastic job many of our members are doing, innovating and investing in their networks and businesses and now it’s time for them to reflect on their achievements over the past 12 months, share their success stories with our judges and hopefully, take their place on stage amongst the best of the best in franchising at our awards ceremony in November. We cannot wait to read their entries and wish them the very best of luck.”
In the meantime, the categories for the 2026 awards are:
Franchisor Award Categories
- Franchisor of the Year – Emerging
- Franchisor of the Year – Expanding
- Franchisor of the Year – Established
- Leadership & Culture
- Franchise Support
- Marketing
- Research & Development
Franchisee Award Categories
- HSBC UK Multi-Unit
- HSBC UK Multi-Brand
- Young Guns
- Community Impact
- BFA Star Performer
- Dynamic Duo
- Customer Focus
An honour to judge
Meanwhile, Gillian Morris, UK Head of Franchise, Commercial Banking, at sponsors HSBC UK said: “Judging the British Franchise Awards is a genuine honour. As HSBC UK continues its long-standing sponsorship, we’re proud to support an event that shines a spotlight on the strategic choices and operational excellence of the UK’s outstanding franchisors and franchisees. I’m looking forward to reviewing the entries and hearing the stories of hard work, resilience, entrepreneurial drive and optimism that are powering the industry forward.”
‘Major milestone’
Reflecting on what the recognition has meant to their business, last year’s winner David Glover, MD of the 2025 Franchisor of the Year Award – Gold (Established) said: “Winning this award in 2025 was a major milestone for our business. It recognised the dedication and care our teams were bringing every day – from supporting franchise owners and delivering training, to managing operations and keeping things running behind the scenes.”
The deadline for entries is 5 June 2026.
The BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards will be held on 12 November 2026 in Telford, Shropshire. More information can be found on the BFA website: https://www.thebfa.org/bfa-hsbc-uk-british-franchise-awards/
