activ enters the Elite Franchise Top 100 for the first time

At midday today, the embargo lifted and we were able to share news that means a great deal to our entire network. Read our full profile interview Read our interview in the Top 100 guide.

For the first time in our history, activ Marketing has been named in the Elite Franchise Top 100, entering the rankings at position 96. This places us firmly inside the top 10% of UK franchise brands.

For us, operating in a sector that has not historically been represented in the EF100, this is a significant achievement. It reflects the strength of our systems, the success of our partners and the unique position we hold in the marketing industry – offering a structured alternative to solo marketing and for businesses; a more personal, accessible experience than a large agency.

The EF100 is a respected benchmark in UK franchising. Brands are evaluated on growth, innovation, infrastructure, impact and the quality of support offered to franchise partners. To debut in the Top 100 is recognition of the work our community has invested over the last year.

And the timing could not be more fitting, because this week we announced the biggest developments in our model since 2021.

A Week of Major Announcements for activ

What began with one hook has become the most transformational week ever.

Below is a summary of every announcement made across the last five days.

1. International expansion: activ goes global

In January, we open up our international franchise programme. This marks the moment activ moves from nationwide to global, with conversations already taking place in far away places with more to be revealed soon.

This expansion strengthens our long term vision: a model robust enough to scale, delivered through a community that thrives on collaboration, clarity and shared success.

2. Our new London office opening in 2026

Alongside our Cardiff headquarters, activ will open a second base in London in Q1 2026.

The London office will become a central hub for:

• Induction days
• Partner training and development
• Industry networking
• Meetings and collaboration

Cardiff remains our registered home. London becomes an additional home that increases accessibility for partners and supports the international growth of the network.

3. The launch of activ Thrive

This week we officially announced activ Thrive, our subscription based website and marketing support product.

Thrive provides:

• Real developer quality
• Expert marketing support
• An affordable, automated experience
• Stronger client retention
• Recurring income for franchise partners

Thrive will become another core part of our franchise model, offering a simple and scalable way for partners to support more clients and earn more, consistently

4. The introduction of Kora – our AI assisted ‘employee’

Launching in early 2026, Kora is our new AI assisted ‘employee’ for every franchise partner. The only employee they will ever need.

She has been named Kora because she sits at the core of our ecosystem.

Kora is being trained on:

• Our systems
• Our SoloPower™ principles
• Insight from hundreds of client relationships

She will support partners with their reach, their marketing, their onboarding and their navigation of the activ model.

We remain a human led franchise, but Kora will provide clarity, structure and daily support as a strategic advantage.

5. The formalisation of SoloPower™

SoloPower™ is the philosophy behind activ. It is built on three pillars:

• Support: you are self employed, not by yourself
• Systems: structure removes overwhelm
• Security: recurring income and forecasting support sustainable scale

SoloPower™ is now formally embedded across our training, onboarding and the everyday experience of being an activ franchise partner.

We also released the first guide in our SoloPower™ series:
 

How To Combat The Time Ceiling and Build Financial Security.

6. A new cohort recruitment model

From February 2026, all new franchise partners will only join through defined cohorts. Until then we are closed.

Our first cohort opens with five spaces only.

This ensures every partner begins with shared momentum, shared structure and shared community – the foundations that have always made our network so successful.

A new era for activ

This week marked the close of “how things have always been” and the beginning of a new chapter – one built on clarity, structure and the ambition to support more solo marketers than ever before.

To be recognised in the EF100 at the same moment we unveil these developments is powerful.

It confirms that the industry sees what our partners already know: activ occupies a unique space in the market, and the next phase is our most exciting yet.

Explore the next chapter

If you are exploring whether the activ franchise might be the right next step for you, here are easy ways to begin:

✨ Download our franchise guide
✨ Join our next webinar on 8 January 2026
✨ Book a discovery call

This week has been one of celebration, clarity and evolution for the entire activ network – and this is only the beginning.