PARTNERS in a grounds maintenance business based at Arley, near Bewdley, are in the running for a national title carrying a £5,000 prize.

John Passfield and Roy Sharpe, who run Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, are among nine finalists in the 2005 BFA Franchisee of the Year awards, which is backed by HSBC Bank and Express Newspapers.

The awards dinner takes place in Birmingham next Thursday on the eve of the National Franchise Exhibition. Second and third-placed contenders will earn £3,000 and £2,000 respectively.

Franchise operations in the UK are worth £9 billion a year to the national economy.

Mr Passfield and Mr Sharpe held individual franchises with the Countrywide group before deciding, in 1997, to join forces.

Countrywide Central was set up with the exclusive intention of securing a five-year grounds maintenance contract with Severn Trent Water but the franchisees have since merged all their operations.

They have also bought four extra franchise areas, taking their total to seven. Employee numbers total 120 while three depots operate 40 mobile teams.

Services offered range from a one-stop shop for fine turf to general amenity horticulture as well as hard and soft landscaping and aboriculture work.

Business totalling over £3 million a year has been generated from national organisations, including corporate concerns, utilities and the MoD.

The national franchisee awards were launched in April to recognise operators in the industry, which employs more than 300,000 people in the UK.

Former Government media chief, Sir Bernard Ingham, is chairing the judging panel, which is looking for franchisees who have outperformed competitors and excelled at Managing Change - the theme for this year's competition.

Brian Smart, director general of the BFA, said: "These unique annual awards highlight the success and financial rewards that can be achieved through ethical franchising."

Cathryn Hayes, head of franchising for HSBC Bank, said: "John Passfield and Roy Sharpe deserve recognition of their success because they have shown what can be achieved through commitment, hard work and making the most of a proven business formula.

"HSBC has supported many franchising success stories over the last 20 years and recognises the valuable contribution franchisees, such as Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, make to the UK economy by creating local businesses."