Franchising boost: Manchester's premier business event, the British Franchise Exhibition last month, proved there's still potential for business success.(Manchester exhibition review)

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THERE WAS passion and energy, ambition and eagerness as aspiring franchise buyers from all over the UK descended on Manchester Central for The British Franchise Exhibition, long established as the north of England's premier franchising event.

They were keen not only to find opportunities among the impressive selection off franchise businesses, they also filled out the seminar theatres --such was their determination to learn as much as they could about franchising from the experts and franchisees present.

Talking to a cross-section off the visitors over the two days of the event, while many were investigating franchising from the start, it seemed that many others had come ready to seize the opportunities quickly.

Berkeley Harris, head of national franchising at WPA, observed: "Many visitors, more than usually, had researched and planned before arriving,"

Jan Massey, director of Photography For Little People, said: "One man even brought architects' drawing of his shop to show us here!"

Experienced exhibitor Garth …