Empowering Women in Business 2023

Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO to the BFA (left), Nathalie Buckley, Coconut (mid), Lyndsey Hancock (right)

Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO to the BFA (left), Nathalie Buckley, Coconut (mid), Lyndsey Hancock (right)

New to Coconut, and new to franchising, we sent Nathalie Buckley and Lyndsey Hancock to their first ever franchise event. Here, Nathalie shares what she loved about attending the BFA’s EWIB conference!

On Wednesday, 27th September, 2023, my colleague Lyndsey Hancock and I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Empowering Women in Business (EWIB) conference hosted by the British Franchise Association (BFA). As newcomers to both the worlds of Coconut and franchising, this event was an eye-opening and inspiring experience for us.

The visionary behind the operation, Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA, ensured EWIB made a triumphant return, for its 10th year, with a resounding focus on the theme, ‘Making Every Moment Count.’ The event brought together a diverse network of women from various sectors within franchising, and it was nothing short of exceptional to be a part of it.

EWIB showcased an outstanding array of guest speakers hailing from diverse business backgrounds, and included:

  • Harpreet Kaur, co-founder of Oh So Yum Desserts & winner of The Apprentice 2022.
  • Sam McAlister, who provided exclusive insights into the notable Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew, titled “How to Convince a Prince.”
  • Eniola Aluko, a double-FA Women’s Cup winner and three-time Premier/Super League champion.
  • Pip Wilkins QFP from the BFA
  • Emily Price QFP also from the BFA
  • Anne-Marie Martin from diddi dance
  • Jane James from Little Voices
  • Lucy Campbell from Right at Home
  • Vicky MacQueen from diddi rugby
  • Rebecca Newenham QFP from Get Ahead
  • Amy Cridland from McDonalds
  • Suzie McCafferty QFP from Platinum Wave
  • Farrah Rose QFP from The Franchising Centre
  • Gillian McAteer from Citation

These extraordinary women and inspirational business leaders delivered an unforgettable experience throughout the day. They generously shared their personal journeys, experiences, and entrepreneurial wisdom. EWIB allowed us to delve into the importance of finding one’s passion, pursuing dreams with unwavering determination, and embrace the challenges that come with the journey to success.

As we absorbed the insights from these accomplished women, I discovered several key takeaways, which I will reflect on further:

“Inspire others to be the best versions of themselves.” – Empowering others is a path to personal and collective growth.

  • Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA

“Plan your time to grow your business and create financial freedom for yourself.” – Effective time management is crucial for success and financial independence.

  • Harpreet Kaur, Oh So Yum Desserts

“Collaborate effectively, define your purpose, involve the right people, and encourage collaborative behavior.” – Building a strong support network and working together can lead to remarkable achievements.

  • Anne-Marie Martin, diddi dance

“Set realistic goals, practice self-compassion, and build a support network.” – Self-care and a strong support system are essential for navigating challenges.

  • Lucy Campbell, Right at Home

“Lift as you climb.” – As we rise, we should bring others along and share our knowledge and experience.

  • Amy Cridland, McDonalds

EWIB demonstrated that franchising is an inclusive and supportive industry, welcoming women from diverse backgrounds. It showed me how personal growth, self-empowerment, and the pursuit of dreams are not limited by our histories, but enriched by them.

EWIB also stressed the importance of adaptability, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and investing in our teams. Additionally, it highlighted the value of readily available coaching and mentoring programs, which are there to help us thrive in franchising.

In conclusion, my first EWIB conference was an unforgettable experience, reinforcing my belief in the power of women in business. Lyndsey and I discussed how we’re now more motivated than ever to embrace our journey in franchising, armed with the wisdom and inspiration we gained from these remarkable women. As we move forward, we’ll carry the lessons of empowerment, collaboration, and personal growth with us, making every moment count in our own entrepreneurial endeavors.

To find out more about our journey into the world of franchising, read Lyndsey’s blog and explore her personal experience of EWIB through our partner site, EWiF

Director of Coconut Media shortlisted for EWIF Award

Sally Butters

Sally Butters

Coconut Creatives is pleased to announce that Sally Butters, Director of Coconut Media, has been shortlisted at the 2013 Encouraging Women Into Franchising (EWIF) Awards. She is a finalist for the Merry Maids Award for Woman Service Provider of the Year Award.

Sally has made a continuous effort not only to encourage women into franchising but also in strengthening the role of women in franchising. She also represented the ladies well at the bfa Chairman’s charity day in September when she gave the men much more than they bargained for at the karting. Coconut Creatives and Coconut Media wish the finalists in all categories the best of luck at the awards ceremony in London on the 16th May.

If you would like to encourage more women into your franchise network, why not contact us!

Finding your perfect franchisees is not as easy as it sounds

Many franchisors jump in and allocate their franchise recruitment marketing budget without taking the time to really understand their ideal franchisee profile, causing long-term problems, says Sally Butters, Director of Coconut Media.

Whether you have a brand new franchise opportunity or you have a 100-strong network, taking time out of your everyday workload to research and compile an accurate profile of what your perfect franchisees are like and how they behave during the franchise purchase journey is absolutely invaluable. This will save you a lot of problems in the future, as it not only gives you an insight as to where you should allocate your budget to generate franchise prospects for the best return on investment (ROI) but also ensures that you attract the right franchisees with the right messages and, therefore, successfully grow your network.

Click here to read the full blog post on Select Your Franchise or visit our services section to find out how Coconut Creatives can help you identify your perfect franchisees!


How videos can be a powerful tool to promote your franchise

Videos are a not only a great tool to allow customers, franchisees and prospective franchisees to see the human side of your business, they also feature your messages in a digestible manner, says Sally Butters, Founding Director at Coconut Media.

Videos have become an essential marketing tool in the franchise industry. They are in most cases relatively easy to make, can drive sales for your franchisees and attract new franchisees to your network. However, as with any other marketing activity it is important to understand what your customers or prospective franchisees want to see and what information they are after.

Click here to read the full blog post on Select Your Franchise or visit our services section to find out how Coconut Creatives can help you create powerful videos!

10 top tips for writing a case study

When you’re looking to recruit franchisees, it’s important to make your business something prospects can relate to. A key way of doing this is by publishing case studies so that prospects can see what the people who have chosen your franchise have to say about their experiences. Sally Butters from Coconut Creative discusses how this can benefit your franchise and shares some of her top tips for writing a case study.

Click here to read the full blog post on Select Your Franchise