Franchising is one of the smartest ways to build a business in the UK. It offers first-time founders a faster route to market, gives operators the chance to scale with structure, and fuels some of the country’s most recognisable brands. But for some reason, it’s still missing from most mainstream business events.
We’re changing that.
This September, Ideas Fest is partnering with Elite Franchise to give franchising a proper platform. Not as an afterthought or a niche session, but as part of the bigger picture. Because franchising is entrepreneurship. And it deserves to be in the room with the rest of the business community.
What is Ideas Fest?
Ideas Fest is a two-day business festival in Tring, Hertfordshire. It takes place in a field just outside London, but this isn’t a camping trip. It’s packed with founders, operators, investors and startups working on real businesses.
The setup is simple. Come for two days of useful talks, honest panels, investor sessions, workshops and relaxed networking. Eat some good food. Listen to live music. Meet people who are building, scaling or starting over. The vibe is informal, but the business is serious.
This year, franchising takes the spotlight.
The panel
As part of the Elite Franchise partnership, we’re hosting a dedicated panel focused on what it really takes to build, grow and survive in the franchise world right now.
Joining the panel will be experts like Jodie Marsh, editor of Elite Franchise, who brings sharp insight from across the sector, Sarah Charles founder of Fun Fest Franchising and Canopy Nurseries. Katie Bullon, founder of Activ Marketing Group, who’s scaled a franchise model and knows the reality behind the glossy brochure, Pip Wilkins, CEO of BFA and we’ll be announcing the other speakers in August.
It’s a mix of franchisees, franchisors and operators who’ve built from scratch, made mistakes, adapted and kept going.
Franchising belongs in this conversation
Franchising often gets stuck in its own lane. Most events either ignore it or treat it like a specialist topic. That’s a missed opportunity. Franchising is one of the most accessible and scalable routes into business ownership, and it’s time that was recognised.
Ideas Fest puts it right in the mix with everything else: tech, investment, branding, operations, leadership and growth. This isn’t about theory. It’s about giving franchise founders access to the same networks, investors and ideas as everyone else.
If you’ve just taken on your first territory, are juggling staff and marketing, or planning to expand into new locations, this is a place to ask questions and get real answers.
The crowd
Ideas Fest brings together a wide mix of people. Budding entrepreneurs. First-time founders. Scaling teams. People in the thick of growing something and trying to do it well.
You might sit next to a franchisee during one session and meet an angel investor over lunch. You might walk away with a new idea, a new partner, or just a better way of approaching what you’re already working on.
This isn’t a franchise-only audience. And that’s the point. It’s a chance to learn from other business models, compare challenges, and make smarter decisions with input from people outside your usual circle.
What you’ll get
This isn’t about inspiration for the sake of it. It’s about action. The conversations at Ideas Fest are straight-up and honest. You’ll hear what people tried, what worked, what failed and how they adjusted. You’ll get ideas you can use the following week, not just feel-good moments.
Whether you’re after hard-core business advice or just want to sit on the grass and figure out your next move with someone who gets it, this is the space to do it.
The content is real, the people are approachable, and the conversations are the kind that tend to stick with you long after you leave.
Why it’s worth coming
If you’re running a franchise, thinking about starting one, or working out how to grow the one you’ve got, these are two days that could move things forward. You’ll hear straight from people who’ve done it. You’ll make connections that are actually useful. And you’ll leave with more clarity, more ideas and more momentum than you came in with.
It’s not about ticking a box or collecting lanyards. It’s about spending time with people who are building businesses for real. And that’s time well spent.
Ideas Fest returns to Pendley Manor Meadows in Tring, Hertfordshire on 10–11 September 2025. Tickets are available now at ideasfest.uk, and Elite Franchise subscribers can enjoy 20% off with the discount code EF20. To register your interest for on-demand session please go to Elite Franchise Live
See you in the field.
