McDonald's franchisee honoured
West Midlands businesswoman Afia Sirkhot, who runs two McDonald's restaurants in the region, has been crowned the Midland’s 2011 BFA HSBC Franchisee of the Year.
Sirkhot was also named the overall UK Silver Award winner at the ceremony. She manages two of the fast food chains in Birmingham and Dudley.
One of 14 finalists, Sirkhot was praised for her dedication to supporting her local communities and creating training and development opportunities for local people.
She said: "This is such a wonderful time to be recognised, knowing the hard work all the staff have put in to achieving successes not only for the business, but also in support of the local community. It is not just a reward for me, but for all our employees across both restaurants.
Cathryn Hayes, head of franchising at HSBC, added: "Afia is a businesswoman who took on a real challenge not only in terms of starting as a new franchisee, but in gaining the support of the community in which she operates.
"Her passion for delivering great customer service and her commitment to her staff came across strongly - she is a true credit to the franchising industry and an inspiration to small businesses across the UK."
