At Bluebird Care we’re celebrating after being named a finalist for two awards in the prestigious 2026 BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards.
As a franchisor, we’re up for the Marketing Award, and two franchise partners, brothers Mehul and Tushar Shah, are up for the Dynamic Duo Award.
Since establishing Bluebird Care Reading, Wokingham, Windsor, Maidenhead and Bracknell in 2007, the brothers have built a home care business around two complementary leadership styles. Tushar brings pace, people focus, ideas and growth thinking. Mehul brings structure, financial discipline, systems and careful planning. Together, those strengths have helped create a franchise that now employs 85 people, supports just under 100 customers and has maintained an overall Outstanding CQC rating since 2016.
Read more about their Dynamic Duo nomination here.
The BFA, which runs the awards, known as the ‘Oscars of franchising’, has been the voluntary, self-regulatory body for franchising in the UK since 1977, setting the standards for the sector, based on the Code of Ethics for Franchising.
Bluebird Care, whose franchise partners nationally provide a premium home care service, has its head office in London. Since the company started franchising in 2006, we have sold over 220 territories across the UK and Ireland.
BFA HSBC UK Awards
There are 58 finalists in the 2026 awards across 14 categories, and the winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner in Telford on 12th November 2026, following the association’s annual conference.
Dean Martin, Director of Marketing & Communications at Bluebird Care, said about the nomination:
“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for the Marketing Award. Great marketing in home care isn’t about slogans – it’s about helping families find the right support at the moment they need it, and helping our franchise owners attract brilliant care professionals in their communities. This recognition belongs to our marketing team and to every franchise partner and their colleagues who help to bring our national campaigns to life locally.”
Read and watch to learn more about our Marketing Award nomination on the BFA website here.
UK Head of Franchise at sponsor HSBC UK, Gillian Morris, said:
Congratulations to all the finalists of the British Franchise Awards. Reaching this stage is a real achievement, especially after such a tough and competitive shortlist, and it speaks volumes about your resilience, ambition and the quality of your businesses. As proud sponsors, HSBC UK has seen first-hand the energy and innovation that franchising brings to communities and the wider UK economy. We’re delighted to recognise your success, and we wish you the very best for the awards.”
Chief Executive of the BFA Pip Wilkins said:
“My hugest congratulations to Bluebird Care for reaching the finals of this year’s awards; an outstanding achievement in itself. This is my 10th year of judging the awards as CEO and it’s truly one of my favourite times of the year. Franchising is all about people, and it is my honour and privilege to read about the wonderful work individuals and brands like Bluebird Care are doing in our industry, constantly pushing the needle, stepping out of comfort zones and putting their shoulder behind the wheel of success. I wish Bluebird Care the best of luck and look forward to seeing them at the awards ceremony in November.”
For more information about the BFA, visit www.thebfa.org