Petpals and BFA join forces to promote franchising
Gray, who has experience operating a multi-territory pet care business, highlighted how franchising combines the autonomy of business ownership with the support of an established brand
Pet care franchise Petpals has partnered with the British Franchise Association (BFA) to raise awareness of franchising as a viable path to business ownership.
The initiative is part of the BFA’s educational outreach programme, which aims to make franchising more visible and better understood among students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
As part of this effort, Petpals brand development manager David Gray recently led an online session to discuss the realities of running a franchise.
Gray, who has experience operating a multi-territory pet care business, highlighted how franchising combines the autonomy of business ownership with the support of an established brand.
He said: “For such a proven model, it’s shocking how little airtime franchising gets in education. You can study business at university and never hear the word ‘franchise’. That’s got to change, and our work with the BFA is helping to lead that change.”
He also pointed to common misconceptions around franchising, noting that it is often seen as a sideline or a route into retirement, rather than a scalable and sustainable business model.
Gray added: “We’ve had students come in for placements who’ve gone on to work with us long-term, and even one who bought her own Petpals franchise. That kind of impact is what this is all about.”
The session received positive feedback, with attendees welcoming Gray’s practical insight.
Kevin Thackrah, Petpals director, concluded: “David’s session is a great example of the positive influence franchisees can have when they share their stories. We’re proud to support his work with the BFA – it’s an important step in getting franchising the recognition it deserves, not just as a career path but as a key contributor to the UK economy.”
