Sean Queenan, Marketing Manager, Head Office UK

BFA Annual Conference 2025

Last week, the Target Fixings team—Director Edward Hall QFP, Contractor Account Manager Nevyn Fraser, and myself—had the distinct privilege of attending the BFA Annual Conference 2025 and Franchise Awards, held at the prestigious Telford International Centre.

As long-standing and dedicated members of the British Franchise Association (BFA), this annual pilgrimage is essential. We attend not just to catch up on the latest happenings in the franchising community, but to critically absorb the newest strategies, trends, and legal updates. It’s an invaluable opportunity to benchmark our growth model against the best in the UK. This year’s event, expertly sponsored by industry leaders Citation and Constant Contact, provided incredible, actionable insights, which only further cemented our conviction: a Target Structural Franchise represents one of the most robust and compelling UK franchise opportunities available today.

The day began in the main foyer, a bustling hub where we reconnected with familiar faces—people we’ve collaborated with in BFA seminars throughout the year—and met new ones. The energy was palpable, setting the stage for a highly informative day. Prior to the conference, attendees select breakout sessions tailored to their roles, ensuring everyone gains the maximum personal benefit.

Here are the 3 Key Reasons we took away from the conference that prove the fundamental strength and future potential of our specialized Masonry reinforcement franchise UK model:

1. Data-Driven Systems Mean Guaranteed Improvement and Efficiency

The conference officially commenced with a sharp focus on the revolutionary power of Data. This theme was powerfully illustrated by CEO Pip Wilkins, who shared a fascinating case study involving a track day. Using only the raw data recorded from the personal race car of Theo Millward, Director of Swimtime, and absolutely no verbal coaching, they successfully analyzed Pip’s performance. The result? They achieved a stunning 14-second improvement in her lap time across the course of the day! The visual evidence and tangible success proved the point: data is paramount.

The Franchise Takeaway: A genuinely successful franchise doesn’t operate on guesswork; it operates on proven, data-driven systems. When you decide to buy a construction franchise UK like ours, you aren’t starting from scratch. You are immediately stepping into a business model where the best practices for installing our manufactured structural repair materials, optimizing job efficiency, managing customer leads, and maximizing profit margins are already fine-tuned based on our proprietary data. This means that as a franchisee, you bypass the initial trial-and-error phase that plagues new business start-ups. The data we provide leads directly to faster, more profitable results and helps protect your investment in a low-cost franchise UK option.

2. The Critical Importance of Recruiting the Right Partner for Growth

Our first breakout session, titled ‘Recruiting for Growth,’ was one of the most informative of the day. Presented by the highly experienced Lee Bateman and Gemma Good of Snap-on Tools, it highlighted how absolutely vital it is to select the right individuals to join your franchise network. The research, pre-planning, and meticulous questioning are not mere formalities; they are the bedrock of success.

The session drove home the message that the alternative to careful vetting is a time-consuming, financially burdensome, and ultimately disappointing problem that can undermine the entire brand.

The Target Structural Advantage: This is where our values align perfectly with BFA best practice. A Masonry reinforcement franchise UK is a specialist business requiring dedication and a focus on quality workmanship. We are deeply committed to finding the right fit. We dedicate significant resources to pre-planning and research to ensure that every new partner we bring onboard not only has the entrepreneurial spirit but also aligns with our core brand commitment to excellence in structural repair. This strategic approach ensures the integrity of the Target Fixings brand across all UK territories, offering assurance to both customers and new investors looking to secure a high-quality UK franchise opportunities investment.

3. Harnessing AI and Brand Power to Dominate Your Local Territory

The second half of the day offered forward-looking insights that will define the next decade of franchising success:

• Piers Linney (Implement AI, former Dragon on Dragons Den) delivered an insightful and inspirational address on the future of AI. He stressed that we must get on board with AI now and actively harness its power as a tool to avoid being left behind. While AI can undoubtedly perform tasks that replace human labour, it still requires human direction. AI seeks to do a job faster and with less personnel, not necessarily ‘better’ without human guidance. Piers successfully reframed what can sometimes feel like a dystopian topic into an achievable and exciting opportunity for business growth.
• The final breakout session I attended was ‘Brand Power: Aligning local and national marketing for maximum impact,’ presented by Tom Bowers of Snap Fitness and Emma Scholes of Caremark. It was fascinating to observe how two successful, large-scale franchisors managed to achieve widespread success without using identical methods. They discussed how they provide a robust ‘blue print’ for all franchises while simultaneously granting local partners the necessary flexibility to develop their own identity within strict, cohesive brand guidelines.

What This Means for Our Franchisees: When you join Target Fixings, you are purchasing a Masonry reinforcement franchise UK that is supported by a strong, recognizable national manufacturing brand. Our franchisees benefit from high-level R&D, continuous product innovation, and national digital marketing efforts. This powerful national support means you are never alone. Furthermore, the brand guidelines are structured to allow you the necessary autonomy to implement local marketing that deeply resonates with the specific needs of your community. It is the ideal framework for securing one of the most future-proof UK franchise opportunities and achieving large-scale, sustainable success.

Ready to Be Your Own Boss in a High-Demand Sector?

The day concluded with an inspiring presentation from the final keynote speaker, Daniel Priestley (Entrepreneur, author, and founder of Dent Global), whose insights into the many advantages of franchising were genuinely motivating. I can personally recommend his book Key Person of Influence.

The evening culminated in the HSBC British Franchising Awards, a phenomenal celebration where we heard countless success stories from across the UK. Congratulations once again to everyone who won an award—we look forward to seeing you all and hearing more great news next year!

If you are inspired by the success of the UK’s top franchises and are actively looking to buy a construction franchise UK that offers technical expertise, national brand support, and a high-demand service, it’s time to take control of your professional future.

Don’t wait to discover how a Target Structural Franchise can be everything you’ve dreamed of!