How success can pile on pounds for women

THE world may not be big enough for more than one Richard Branson or Stelios Haji-Ioannou, but the search is on for a woman who can match the business success of Rosemary Conley, whose low-fat and exercise programmes have trimmed and shaped the bodies of a millions.

Venture Marketing Group, who are organising the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham next Friday and Saturday, to be opened by Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Business, are calling on women throughout the country to find out more about being their own bosses.

VMG Managing director John Hancock says: 'We are striving to alert the nation‘s professional women to the opportunities that are available to them.We know that franchisors often find it difficult to find the right people. There is a misconception that opportunities are either for man-in-a-van or other male dominated industries, or in traditional female roles such as cleaning, nursing and child care.'

Penny Schouten, took up the challenge eight years ago, at the age of 35, having given up her well-paid job as international purchasing manager for a fashion accessories company. 'I turned down a directorship because I wanted to do something that would better suit my newly married life,' she says.

'After qualifying to become an exercise-to-music instructor, I chose a franchise with Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs, which gave me the chance to build a business that fitted in with my lifestyle.

'I now run 20 classes a week, and last year was the Rosemary Conley Franchisee of the Year.'

Opportunities in franchising are vast, ranging from building and property services to estate agency and letting services, training and recruitment, food and drink and health and beauty. Many of these provide flexible working hours and can be run from home, allowing women to juggle the responsibilities of home and children with the chance to build a business.

'Women are under-represented in business in general, and in franchising in particular, ' says Mr ancock. 'Women account for only a quarter of franchisees, and our aim is to raise this level, at least to that of the United States where a third of franchises are held by women.'

Banks such as HSBC and NatWest are joining in, promoting information and financial backing programmes tailored to women.

And it is not only women who are in demand. The NatWest/ British Franchise Association Survey 2003 shows that 40% of the 677 franchisors in the UK are having difficulty finding suitable franchisees, and that is thwarting their plans for expansion.

Yet, while more than a quarter of all the 373,000 businesses which started-up last year are likely to fail, ending the dreams of those who thought life would be grand if they could be their own boss, figures show that more than nine out of every ten franchisees are profitable.

THE British Franchise Association is offering free tickets, worth £13 each, to the National Franchise Exhibition. Print off this report and present it at the NEC in Birmingham on September 12 or 13 to claim your free entrance.