The BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards is a staple event for franchisors and franchisees committed to recognising and championing excellence in ethical franchising.
Each year, this prestigious event celebrates the very best in our industry, showcasing franchisors and franchisees alike.
The Awards provide a unique opportunity to be recognised for your commitment, innovation, and dedication to your business and the wider franchise community. Even just reaching the shortlist for an award brings significant brand visibility and an increase to your reputation.
Simply click on any of the ‘Enter now’ buttons below and it will take you to an online platform where all entries are to be submitted. All you have to do is register an account and off you go! You can select the category you wish to enter and follow the entry form accordingly. You do have the option to save your entry and return to it later but make sure that you submit it when you are happy that it is complete!
This year we will only be accepting entries via the online platform, once submitted you will receive an email confirming your submission. Entries close at midnight on Friday 5th June.
Please ensure that you submit your entry by this deadline as no extensions will be provided. The system will automatically prevent entry submissions after the deadline.
So, what are this year’s categories? You can find out the Franchisor and Franchisee categories below. Make sure you read the criteria carefully to ensure you qualify before entering and if you have any questions about the categories of your reaccreditation, please contact us.
Learn more about our 2026 franchisor categories and find the one that best suits you and your business! Franchisors may enter any category they are eligible for and meet the full criteria shown below.
Find out more about our franchisee categories and how we are celebrating the people that make the industry! Franchisees may enter up to three categories, with only one franchisee representing the brand in each category. Franchisee entries must be submitted by the franchisor on behalf of their selected franchisee.
This year we are proud to announce our Franchise Support Partner of the Year award. Open to all BFA Advisors or Suppliers*, this category celebrates the businesses who support the franchise sector, and their contributions to the industry.
*Excluding banks
We have a variety of top tips on how to make your entry wow our judges and lead you on your way to success! For both franchisors and franchisees, you will need to write up to 1,000 words for each award entered. This content should be tailored to the category you are entering, providing evidence and showcasing your success in this area.
All franchisor and franchisee entries must also provide their most recent audited accounts (franchisor accounts for the franchisor, business accounts for the franchisee), or management accounts if the audited accounts are not available.
Even with all this evidence, don’t forget to have fun with your entry!
Want more guidance on structuring high-impact awards entries?
Don’t miss out on our May Power Hour covering the blueprint for creating standout award submissions. This free to attend Power Hour is hosted online on May 7th, giving you an hour to discuss winning entries, share challenges and ask questions. To make sure you don’t miss out, add this session to your calendar by clicking the link below.
Prior to entering the awards, please ensure that you are available for the following mandatory dates. These dates cannot be moved. If you are a successful finalist, you will be allocated a time slot on a particular day within these two weeks, which you must be free for. Both the judging and filming are very tight schedules.
Judging Week: 20th – 24th July
Filming Week: 21st – 25th September
And of course, make sure that you are free for the BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards celebratory evening on 12th November 2026!
Once the entries have closed, a shortlisting selection process takes place to decide on our finalists. All entrants will be notified if they are a finalist by Monday 29th June.
If you are successful as a finalist you will be notified of the next steps for the judging phase and our filming week. We will also be asking you to complete a finalist PR pack, consisting of a questionnaire, as well as to supply your brand logo and photos to support your entry. This again will all be done online.
Our judging process takes place via Zoom on the dates provided above. During these sessions, your entry will be reviewed by our judging panel of the BFA and industry experts. This presents a unique opportunity for you to enhance your submission by presenting your passions and highlighting key aspects of your business. Moreover, the judges will engage with you through questions tailored to your background, your business, and the details of your entry.
Our filming week is where you get to really shine! We not only film content to be used as part of our awards celebrations but you also have the opportunity to take part in our Best in Franchising marketing campaign and additional content will be filmed for this at the same time.
Along the way we will be keeping you updated on the next steps via email and you can contact us at any time.
HSBC UK have been long standing sponsors of our awards, and we are proud to have them sponsor our event again this year!
HSBC UK works closely with the us and our members to encourage successful and ethical franchising. Perhaps more than any other sector, franchising is about more than just making money. It’s also about creating strong and mutually beneficial relationships. As a bank, HSBC UK see their role as not only developing those relationships with their customers but also helping them connect with potential partners. Alongside that, their experienced business managers can make effective decisions, helping potential franchisors and franchisees to establish their businesses and build their success.
