The British Franchise Association (bfa) has announced the finalists in the 2011 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards. After much deliberation, the short list of 22 franchisees has been whittled down to 15 finalists across five regions.

The national awards, which are supported by Express Newspapers, serve to highlight excellence within the sector and the commitment of those franchisees who ‘set the standard’ for best practice in the industry.

The finalists are as follows:

LONDON/SOUTH EAST
Jonathan and Luke Mason, Belvoir Lettings (Hitchin)
Manjit Singh, Driver Hire (Enfield)
Asad Hamir, O2 (London W1)
Tina Kemp, WPA (Droxford, Hampshire)

SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES
Robin Delve, Dairy Crest (Newton Abbott)
Lorraine Thompson, Driver Hire (Oxford)
Holly and Chris Galley, Riverford Organic Vegetables (Shaftesbury)

MIDLANDS/NORTH WALES
Steven Prime, Esquires Coffee Houses (Coventry)
Afia Sirkhot, McDonald's Restaurants (Birmingham and Dudley)
Carol and David Brinkworth, Wiltshire Farm Foods (Grantham)

NORTH
Paul Daley-Smith, Autosmart (Scarborough)
Catharine and Mike Chalton, Home Instead Senior Care (Moreton, Wirral)
Malcolm Lant, Signs Express (Gateshead)

SCOTLAND/ NORTHERN IRELAND
Andy Campbell, Belvoir Lettings (Moray)
Ian Cain, NBC Bird & Pest Solutions (Edinburgh)

The finalists will now be invited to attend an interview with the judging panel before the winners are announced at a prestigious black-tie dinner being held at the NEC in Birmingham, on Thursday 29th September.

In addition to the winners across the five regions, this year’s awards will include an overall winner – the Gold Winner of the Awards – who will be named bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year and will receive £5000 from HSBC. The Silver and Bronze Winners will receive £3000 and £2000 respectively, courtesy of HSBC. The five regional winners will each receive £500, again provided by HSBC.

If you would like further information about attending the awards please contact: Emma Cook at the bfa on 01235 820470.