Central Midlands franchise partner Anu Khanna wins the 2026 award, extending ActionCOACH UK’s annual run of recognition since 2022.
ActionCOACH UK has secured its fifth consecutive year of recognition at the Great British Franchisee Awards (GBFA), with Central Midlands franchise partner Anu Khanna named among this year’s winners.
Khanna’s achievement continues a run that began in 2022, when Kevin Riley received the award. She follows previous ActionCOACH winners Jon Asquith in 2023, Gary Keating in 2024 and Jenni Morgan in 2025, highlighting the network’s continued presence among the UK’s recognised franchise operators.
The Great British Franchisee Awards recognise franchisees for their business performance, customer satisfaction, staff retention, leadership and community involvement. Khanna’s recognition reflects her financial performance, client relationships, investment in her team and contribution to the wider ActionCOACH network.
ActionCOACH UK Performance Director James Vincent, who has coached and mentored Khanna for more than seven years, said her commitment to taking action and helping others succeed made her a deserving winner.
“Anu lives by one belief: action speaks louder than words. In a business called ActionCOACH, no one embodies that more. What she says, she does, every time, and the level of action she catalyses in everyone around her is inspirational,” Vincent said.
He added that Khanna consistently helped her clients achieve their goals while sharing knowledge with fellow coaches across the network.
“I’ve coached and mentored Anu for over seven years and I’ve learnt a lot from her too. Great British Franchisee Awards winner… there’s no one more deserving,” he said.
For Khanna, the award recognises the impact of business coaching and the value of collaboration within the franchise network.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be recognised. For me, the best part of this business is seeing the difference we can make to business owners, helping them build stronger organisations and achieve things they might not have thought possible,” she said.
She added that sharing ideas, learning from fellow coaches and supporting their development were central to her experience with ActionCOACH.
The judging panel also highlighted Khanna’s commercial performance, long-term client relationships and commitment to developing her team. Beyond her own business, she contributes to the wider franchise community by sharing knowledge and experience with other coaches. Her community involvement includes supporting the Buddy Bag Foundation.
Suzanne Melville of WhichFranchise, the organisation behind the Great British Franchisee Awards, said Khanna had demonstrated strong business growth alongside a commitment to developing people and supporting the wider community.
Her client feedback, continued investment in her team and contribution to the franchise network were among the factors highlighted by the judges.
The recognition adds to ActionCOACH UK’s track record at the awards, with a franchise partner receiving recognition in each of the past five years.
Founded by Brad Sugars, ActionCOACH operates a business coaching franchise model that enables franchise partners to work with business owners on growth, profitability, leadership and operational performance. The network’s model is built around coaching programmes, business education and ongoing support for entrepreneurs and established companies.
