The third annual National Franchise Week is planned for September 25 to October 1, writes Sarah Parker.

The week, organised by the British Franchise Association, will highlight business format franchising as one of the safest methods to start or expand your business.

A series of dedicated workshops for prospective franchisees which will bring to life the day-to-day activities of a franchisee and enable individuals to assess their suitability.

Members of the BFA include The Body Shop, Clarks Shoes, Thorntons, Kall-Kwik Printing and McDonald's, and almost 200 other accredited companies. The UK franchise industry now directly employs 316,900 people and the industry is worth 8.9bn.

For more information on business opportunities, call the National Franchise Week Helpline on 0870 161 4000.