Meet the BFA Board

"My commitment to the BFA’s membership is that I will continue to champion franchising in all its forms, celebrate the opportunities it creates and advocate for greater awareness of the amazing contribution it makes to the business community and to the lives of so many people.”

Ben Brookes is the Managing Director at one of the UK’s most established and reputable van-based franchises, Agency Express. Ben has worked within the franchise industry for well over a decade, after building extensive experience in both business and sales across the property and service sectors. Ben joined Agency Express in 2007 as Operations Manager and was promptly promoted to Franchise Director. In January 2020 he accepted his role at the helm of the company as Managing Director.

Caroline Gowing is the co-founder and franchisor of Pink Spaghetti, a UK- wide network of virtual assistant franchises supporting small business owners with the tasks they lack the time or expertise to do. Pink Spaghetti was founded in 2009 and with over fifteen years in ethical franchising, Caroline is passionate about helping others build rewarding businesses, championing collaboration, inclusivity and genuine balance between professional success and personal fulfilment.

Paul is a passionate advocate of franchising, Water Babies have been finalists in the annual BFA Awards over a number of years winning Franchisor of the Year in 2016 and he sits on the Board of the BFA. "The BFA has given us a lot of opportunities to expand, remain current and ensure we maintain best practice. Water Babies really believes in the BFA and the work that they do to support British franchising across the board; both within the UK and Internationally."

"The BFA continues to set high standards within franchising, which I relate to and feel proud to be associated with. I am passionate about franchising, not afraid to challenge decisions, skilled at implementing strategies am an EWIF Ambassador, deliver talks on franchising and promote the sector in various ways online."

“I see first-hand how hard the BFA teamwork in order to shape an exciting future for UK Franchising. I am particularly interested in the BFA initiatives around ‘increasing new franchisee membership’ and ‘encouraging more women into business’."