Autosmart International LTD., received the winner’s trophy from bfa President, Sir Bernard Ingham, at a glittering Awards luncheon held at London’s Sheraton Park Lane Hotel.

The Awards, sponsored by Express Newspapers and HSBC Bank, seek out the top performing franchisors in the UK, rewarding individual excellence and highlighting the increasing influence of a market sector now worth £12.4 billion a year. 

The theme for this year’s Awards was ‘now and then, five years on’, with franchisors having to demonstrate the developments they have brought to their businesses in the past five years.

Moving with the times doesn’t always mean making radical changes, as Autosmart International has successfully demonstrated. Against a shifting backdrop of emerging markets and new product sectors, its focus over the last five years has been its core business principles and what it knows it does best.

In 2003, following a period of frustration in finding ways to move the business forward, a management buyout signalled a fresh approach. Shunning fancy marketing strategies and radical business ideas, Autosmart’s call to action to its franchisees was to concentrate on its traditional business values of sale by demonstration and well planned call cycles, with dramatic results. Sales have risen by half again to £15 million.

The company also overcame another major challenge, one familiar to many established franchise businesses, that of having a network close to full allocation, but with an element of over allocation in some territories, where target profit had been achieved and growth had come to a halt.

The company took the logical, yet brave, decision to engage those franchisees with oversized territories to commit to a plan to increase sales, or sell part of the business to a new recruit. Working closely with franchisees, the reduction in territory sizes resulted in increased profit for the franchisor and franchisees

Investing heavily in its franchisee recruitment team Autosmart has succeeded in driving recruitment skills upwards and quadrupled its rate of franchisee recruiting in the UK over the last five years.

By having a sound grasp of what works and sticking to what it does best, Autosmart has firmly established a business model that would take the company and its franchise network forward to a secure future.

Director General of the bfa, Brian Smart, said: “This year’s competition was extremely difficult to judge, with high quality contributions from many of the entrants.

“Autosmart stood out amongst the short-listed companies and deserves recognition for their outstanding achievements. They have continually developed their business model to support their network of franchisees, ensuring they maximise growth whilst building a sustainable and profitable business.”

Express Newspapers’ Classified Advertising Director, Justin Mafham, added his praise of the company’s achievement: “Autosmart have shown just how adaptable a good franchise operation can be and we look forward to sharing their success story with our readers.”

Head of Franchising for HSBC, Cathryn Hayes, added: “Autosmart has consistently developed products and services to meet new customers’ needs.

“We at HSBC are committed to delivering the same level of service to our customers in franchising – a growing sector we have been supporting for more than 20 years.”