Sandra James, the founder of cat care franchise The Cat Butler, has received a letter from her local MP, offering to ‘table a written Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking if he will consider launching a public campaign in support of the franchise model.’

Sandra wrote to her local MP Daisy Cooper in August 2022, asking for her support following an article she wrote entitled, ‘Why this may be the worst time to start up a business but the best time to buy a franchise’, which revealed that 70% of people were put off setting up their own business in the current economic climate. In the article, Sandra was able to show that franchising directly addressed or sometimes negated most of the concerns given eg the cost of setting up, lack of support, lack of knowledge, losing money etc. Sandra asked Ms Cooper how the Government could support franchisors and ultimately, British business.

In her reply, Ms Cooper said that she ‘completely agreed’ with Sandra’s views and that it ‘did not surprise her’ that so many people were put off starting their own businesses, and to keep the economy growing ‘we need to give people the confidence to start their own business.’ 

She also said: “I’ve always thought that the franchising system has a lot to offer in providing support to new entrepreneurs and given the challenging time we face ahead.”

Ms Cooper has offered to ‘write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking if he will consider launching a public campaign in support of the franchise model.’

Anyone wishing to see the question and the response in due course can do so by visiting:  https://members.parliament.uk/member/4769/writtenquestions 

Commenting Sandra said: “I could not be more thrilled that my MP, Daisy Cooper has taken the time to reply to my letter and in such positive terms for the franchising sector. Like many of my fellow franchisors, I know franchising is the answer to many people’s dreams of owning their own business, especially during economically uncertain times and it is fantastic to think we might finally have the Government’s support as well. I will, as I’m sure many of us will, wait with bated breath for the Government’s response and fervently hope franchising will finally get the support and recognition it so richly deserves.”