The Natwest EWIF Awards are announced
The Annual NatWest EWIF Awards event is over for another year, but the celebration of each of the category winners is only just beginning! Following on from an excellent event in London, here are the winners of this year’s awards for each category.
We are Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF), an organisation focusing our time and energy on supporting women who are looking for a route into the franchising industry. Our mission is to educate, inspire and empower and one way we do this is by hosting an Annual Awards Ceremony celebrating the achievements of women across the franchising industry.
At our 9th NatWest EWIF Awards, held on Tuesday 1st May, the atmosphere at the NatWest building, London was electric. And now, after all the excitement, we are extremely proud to announce the winners for this year’s NatWest EWIF awards, and would like to thank everyone who entered and attended!
So without further ado, drum roll please…
New Woman Franchisor of the Year 2019, Sponsored by Daisy First Aid
Christina Taylor-Chisholm, Popolo Ceramico
Christina had been running her own mobile personalised ceramics business capturing baby and children’s hand and footprints for 6 years. She realised that she had developed a unique business meaning she could work flexibly. With 11 franchisees, on-board and another four in the pipeline, Christina has successfully lead and motivated a franchise network to follow her proven business model.
New Woman Franchisee of the Year 2019, Sponsored by NatWest
Sarah Johnson, It’seeze
Sarah and her team achieved a new goal of 100 sales in September 2018 (1 year and 3 weeks since starting) - something no one had come close to achieving in the previous 10 years since It'seeze websites became a franchise.
Woman Franchisor of the Year Sponsored by Hitachi Capital Franchise Finance
Jo Stone & Tracy Townend, Puddle Ducks Franchising Ltd
Puddle Ducks are one of only two UK based Franchisors to achieve the WorkBuzz 5* Franchisee Satisfaction award six years running. They offer a 360-degree approach take to our franchise model, from the business support and training they offer, the industry-leading approach to baby and child swimming, the management information they make available, the innovative national marketing and the wide range of pool management models they have researched and supported.
Woman Franchisee of the Year 2019, Sponsored by McDonald’s
Charlotte Foxley, diddi dance
Charlotte runs a team of six teachers who cover 20 classes a week and work with several nurseries and special needs schools delivering diddi dance. Charlotte’s business is the first diddi dance franchisee to complete the Para Dance Instructor qualification in July.
Woman Franchise Employee of the Year 2019 Sponsored by What Franchise
Helen Garland, Right at Home UK
Committed to the personal development of her team, Helen leads by example, undertaking regular personal development herself. This inspires and encourages the rest of the team. As of now, 51% of the CareGivers hold or are studying for a QCF qualification.
Young Woman in Franchising of the Year 2019, Sponsored by Darwin Gray
Hannah Drury, Caremark
As holder of the bfa’s Young franchisee of the year Hannah continues to inspire. She implements initiatives for her franchisees, meaning they can connect better with customers and local community. Hannah says,
“To be recognised for my achievements, in a room of incredible business women, was an honour.”
Service Provider of the Year 2019, Sponsored by The International Franchise Show
Suzie McCafferty, Platinum Wave Franchising
Despite spending nine months of 2018 pregnant, Suzie still managed to work with 25 brands on everything from franchising their business, to improving franchisee performance, to recruiting great franchisees and even international expansion. Suzie also hosted several ‘franchise your business’ seminars throughout the year and launched of Platinum Wave's sister company, Franchise Moves.
Inspirational Woman of the Year 2019, Sponsored by Little Voices
Anne-Marie Martin, diddi dance
Anne-Marie took diddi dance to local festivals, as well as Camp Bestival, where she gave classes to those attending the festival, solidifying a relationship with the organisers. In 2018, improvements were made to franchisee training and inspirational motivation with even more face to face visit, frequent calls and Skype meetings. Additionally, in 2018 Anne-Marie provided monthly webinars, an online forum as well as regional face to face forum arranged by the franchisees and financially supported by head office.
The Overall Woman in Franchising award, sponsored by Astonish Email, was won by Jo Stone and Tracy Townend of Puddle Ducks.
Congratulations to all the NatWest EWIF winners, 2019.
If you weren’t able to be involved in this year’s awards, why not join us at the EWIF Conference 2019 on Thursday 19th September. The conference offers you a chance to meet and network with other women across the franchising industry, including service providers, so you can share ideas, gain expert knowledge as well as hear about the fantastic developments from the organisation. To find out more visit ewif.org.
#EWIFConf19
Thank you to all of this years’ the entrants, guests, hosts and sponsors. If you were unsuccessful this year – why not give it a go in 2020?! You never know, it might just be your year…