The Elite Franchise Top 100 (EF100) UK Awards will open for entries on 6 July, giving franchisors the opportunity to showcase the achievements, innovation and growth that have defined their businesses over the past year.
While many businesses focus on gathering information once entries open, experienced award judges often see the strongest submissions come from organisations that start preparing well in advance.
A successful franchise awards entry is rarely about who has grown the fastest or generated the highest revenue. Instead, judges look for evidence, clarity and a compelling story. The best submissions demonstrate how a franchise has supported its network, overcome challenges, introduced new ideas and delivered measurable results.
One of the most common mistakes applicants make is assuming judges already understand their business. In reality, every entry must stand on its own merits. Judges may know the brand, but they can only assess what is presented in the application. Strong entries explain achievements clearly, support claims with evidence and provide context around performance.
Another challenge is knowing what information to prioritise. Franchise businesses often have a long list of accomplishments, but the most effective submissions focus on the developments that had the greatest impact on franchisees, customers and the wider business. Quality almost always outweighs quantity.
To help franchisors prepare stronger submissions, Elite Franchise will host a virtual pre-entry masterclass on 1 July, before applications officially open. The session will give prospective entrants the opportunity to hear directly from members of the EF100 judging panel and gain a better understanding of what judges are looking for.
Attendees will learn how entries are assessed, what separates successful applications from weaker submissions and how to present achievements in a way that is both clear and persuasive. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions directly to the judges before work begins on applications.
As host of the EF100 Masterclass and Commercial Director of the Elite Franchise brand, Jodie Marsh comments on the shift in how this year’s process will be approached:
“There is a significant change in how we are approaching the EF100 application process this year. Even for businesses that have entered multiple times before, it is important not to assume the process will feel familiar or that previous entries will give you a clear advantage.
“We strongly encourage all franchisors, whether they are first-time entrants or long-standing EF100 brands, to attend the masterclass. It will give them a clear understanding of what judges are looking for and how to approach their submission before entries officially open.”
The masterclass reflects a wider aim to make the awards process more accessible and transparent. Whether a business is entering for the first time or has appeared in the rankings before, understanding the judging process can help applicants present their achievements more effectively.
With entries opening earlier than ever, franchisors now have additional time to prepare their submissions and gather the evidence needed to support their application. For many businesses, that extra preparation could make a significant difference when the judging process begins.
The EF100 remains one of the UK’s most recognised franchise rankings, celebrating businesses that demonstrate excellence across leadership, innovation, growth, franchisee support and overall business performance.
Registration for the pre-entry masterclass is now open, with the event taking place on 1 July, ahead of the 6 July entry launch.
