Ben Brookes joins BFA Board of Directors, championing ethical franchising

We are thrilled to announce that Ben Brookes, Managing Director of Agency Express, has been elected as a Board Director of the British Franchise Association (BFA).

Ben joins a distinguished team of industry leaders, including Paul Thompson of Water Babies, who continues as BFA Chair, Ken Deary of Right at Home, representing the BFA within the European Franchise Federation (EFF), and Catharine Chalton of Home Instead, who serves as the franchisee representative.

Reflecting on his appointment, Ben Brookes shared:

I have long believed that the BFA represents the pinnacle of franchising not only in the UK, but across the world. Ethical franchising has always bene at the core of what we do at Agency Express, and it’s been an important part of our strategy to maintain membership since day one of our business 27 years ago. This year I felt the time was right to put myself forward for election to the BFA board, in the hope I may be able to humbly offer my 17 years of experience in franchising to support the association and its members. It was a huge honour then to hear I had been successful in joining such an elite group of professionals, and I can’t wait to get started!

CEO Pip Wilkins QFP said:

I am delighted to share the outcomes of our most recent AGM, where key appointments and re-elections were made to strengthen the governance structure of the BFA. As we prepare for 2025, our focus remains on supporting our members, promoting ethical practices and positioning franchising as a successful and inclusive business model. These results and appointments reflect the expertise and strength within our community, ensuring that we continue to drive progress and support our members effectively into the future.

Ben’s election follows in the footsteps of Stephen Watson, Chairman of Agency Express, who served two terms on the BFA board. Our ongoing contribution ensure that Agency Express maintain an active and vocal presence in promoting ethical franchising in the UK.