The end of 2018 saw the release of the much anticipated 2018 Franchise landscape report, by the bfa and NatWest. For us here at EWIF it was happy reading. Franchising has seen a significant rise in the number of women joining the industry, and in particular, a rise in the number of younger women investing in franchises. A positive and encouraging step forward. This blog reveals the key survey stats confirming that the future is indeed female.
The report provides a detailed in-depth analysis of franchising in the UK. Conducted with franchisors and franchisees from across the UK, the 2018 survey reports on trends and patterns within the industry over the last three years.
For women in franchising, the survey results are significant. Over the past two years, 37% of all new franchisees joining the industry have been female – that’s a huge rise of 20% since 2015. In 2018 we also saw the highest proportion of total female franchisees in the industry since the survey stats began, with 30% of all franchisees being female. This means more and more women are finding the confidence in themselves to take the leap into franchising and bring a new perspective and ideas into the industry.
The younger generation are also taking franchising to new heights. 18% of all franchisees are also reported to be under 30, rising from 3% in 2015. It gets better for young women in franchising as in the past two years, 52% of all new franchisees, under 30, were female. A wonderfully positive year for women and young people in the franchise industry.
Another positive pattern within the industry is 65% of those employed within franchise units are female. Meaning, even if they aren’t directly involved in buying a franchise, they are still introduced to the industry, its benefits and can contribute their part to it.
Kate Pullen, Director for Franchise at NatWest said: “We know that access to information and insight can be one of the main barriers stopping people from starting their own business – franchising can help reduce the fear factor by cutting down on the unknowns.
It’s clear that it’s a popular and productive way for people to own their own business, and we’ve seen strong demand for access to finance around franchising services, both in taking on new franchises and expanding existing ones. We are committed to supporting females in the sector, and working with organisations like EWIF gives us the opportunity to be at the forefront of the support females entering the Franchise sector need and want.”
Here’s to a fantastic 2019 for women in franchising and to continue EWIF’s mission. To read more about the 2018