Gerald Thompson owner of the McDonald’s franchise in Manchester and Oldham, was crowned 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year.
One of 16 exceptional finalists, Gerald was praised for the outstanding success of his franchise, alongside his tireless support and dedication to local community projects.
The 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Award, supported by Express Newspapers, lists the overal winners:
- Gold award – Gerald Thompson, McDonald’s in Manchester and Oldham
- Silver award – Frank Sutherland, Autosmart in Aberdeenshire
- Bronze award – Peter Morrison, Granite Transformations in Cambridge
Gerald commented on winning; “I feel extremely proud to be named the 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year. It’s a great honour and one which I couldn’t have achieved without the great support of my team.”
Alongside his work, Gerald continues to be involved with a number of local youth football teams through sponsorship, contributes to local prison programmes and proactively engages with young people on the streets of Manchester and Oldham; getting involved with activities such as the Midnight Basketball Initiative.
Gerald added: “I’m dedicated to the community activity and not only to help me in my day-to-day job, but because it helps the local community get something more from life. It gives me tremendous satisfaction to see some of the kids I’ve met on the street become respectful and respected individuals, with some becoming valued employees at my restaurants.”
Cathryn Hayes, head of HSBC franchising said: “There were some truly inspirational franchisee nominations this year, so choosing the winners was very challenging. It demonstrates to me that British enterprise is alive and well, even in these tough times.
“All 16 finalists should be very proud of what they have achieved through their endeavour and hard work. On behalf of HSBC, I congratulate each of the winners and look forward to hearing about their continued success.”
Brian Smart, general director of the British Franchise Association (bfa), commented; “The winners of the 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year have excelled in so many ways, and they are a credit to themselves and the franchise industry. They have shown innovation, creativity and a relentless pursuit of excellence, making them all inspirational examples of best practice.
“Gerald is an exceptional individual showing unbelievable character and belief throughout his career and is deserving of the prestigious title, 2010 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year.”
Ben Nealon, classified advertising manager of Express Newspapers, said; “The calibre of franchisees in the UK for this year’s awards was once again tremendous. Every winner has used their initiative and broadened their marketing strategies as part of a successful franchise.
“I’d like to congratulate them all for their dedication to their franchise and wish them every success in the future.”
Gold, silver and bronze award winners were selected from the five regional winners who all demonstrated unique qualities in their field.
Regional winners
London and the South East: Guy Whittaker, Dairy Crest
Scotland: Frank Sutherland, Autosmart
The Midlands: Peter Morrison, Granite Transformations
The North: Gerald Thompson, McDonald’s
The South West and South Wales: Nick Bourne, Cash Generator
