Join Caremark at the International Franchise Show London for Elite Franchise Live
If you are seriously exploring franchise opportunities, the International Franchise Show is worth having in your diary. It takes place at ExCeL London on 17 and 18 April and is free to attend, which makes it a useful one to add to your list if you are at the stage of comparing franchise brands properly.
At Caremark, we know that franchise shows are useful. They put a lot of information in one place, give you a chance to meet the people behind the brands, and help you move from browsing to asking serious questions. But the real value of a franchise exhibition is not just in showing you more options. It is in helping you judge which opportunity is genuinely right for you.
That is why, this April, Caremark CEO David Glover will take that conversation beyond the stand and onto the stage as part of Elite Franchise Live.
Hosted by Jodie Marsh, Commercial Director at Elite Franchise and CEMG, the panel also brings together Lisa Stead, Chief Executive Officer at Trafalgar Education, Alan Catlett CFE, SVP Programmes and Operations at the IFA, and Tim Morris, Co-Founder of Franchise HQ. Together, they will explore the reality of ownership: the day-to-day, the decisions, the people side, and the support you need around you to grow with confidence.
How to Register for Elite Franchise Live
Elite Franchise Live takes place on the Friday of the International Franchise Show (17 April) at 14:45-15:30 in Theatre Two. The session is free to register for, and if you cannot attend in person, on-demand access is available after the event.
You can sign up on Elite Franchise’s website.
About the panel
David brings a perspective to this discussion that is grounded in real experience. He began his career as a solicitor and was ranked as one of the UK’s leading franchise solicitors in 1996 before moving into the commercial side of franchising. He then helped develop Subway across the South East, opened some of the first Subway stores in the UK, and went on to become a multi-unit franchise owner himself. That means he understands franchise ownership from more than one angle: legal, operational and personal.
Since joining Caremark in 2014, David has led the growth of a franchise network that now spans more than 150 offices, supporting franchise owners to deliver care with purpose in communities across the UK. His focus has never been on growth for growth’s sake. It has been on helping the right people build the right kind of business, with the right support around them.
The wider panel brings strong experience too. Lisa Stead brings deep knowledge of franchise operations and systems. Alan Catlett brings a broader industry view through his role at the International Franchise Association. Tim Morris works closely with franchise brands on growth and support, so he brings that practical side of the conversation as well. Together, it is a panel that can talk not just about the appeal of franchising, but about what makes it work in real life.
Advice for the Franchise Show
If you are going to a franchise exhibition, a shortlist helps. Good questions help more.
Most stands will show you the opportunity at its best. That is fair enough. It is their job to present the brand well. Your job is to work out what the business looks like when things are harder than planned, when growth is slower than expected, or when you need proper support quickly.
If you want to get real value from the day, these are the questions worth asking.
What does the training cover, and what comes after it?
Initial training matters, but it is only the start. Ask what support looks like once the launch phase is over, how often it happens, and who it comes from.
How does the brand help you recruit and retain good people?
People are at the heart of any strong business. A good franchisor should be able to explain how they support recruitment, team development and long-term retention.
Can I speak to existing franchise owners at different stages of their journey?
Hearing from people who are newly launched, well-established, and somewhere in between will give you a far more balanced picture of the opportunity.
What do you look for in a franchise owner?
The best franchisors are clear about who fits their model well. This question can tell you a lot about the brand’s values and whether they are focused on long term success rather than simply selling territories.
What are the total costs, not just the initial investment?
It is important to understand the full picture from the start, including working capital, ongoing fees, recruitment costs, and any other investment needed to get the business up and running properly.
These are not difficult questions. They are sensible ones. A franchisor should be comfortable answering them clearly and honestly.
The goal is not to leave with the most brochures. It is to leave with a clearer view of what ownership would actually ask of you, and whether the brand in front of you has the support, structure and values to help you build well. That is what makes events like this useful, and why conversations like Elite Franchise Live are worth making time for.