2023 Finalists – Club Hub Awards and Event

The Club Hub Award 2023 Finalists were announced on 6 March on the Club Hub Website. We had 420 applications this year from 215 Club Hub members across 16 categories. Each category was scored by two judges and their scores were combined to identify the finalists.

There were 5 finalists per category. We have 6 finalists for Biggest Growth of the Year, Solo Star of the Year and Franchise of the Year (with more than 15 franchisees) due to the scores being tied. The standard of applications was very high and represented a diverse range of kids activities, clubs and related businesses. Please take a look at the amazing 58 businesses who are now 2023 Finalists.

Family Business of the Year Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For two or more members from the same family running the business.

Sponsored By Water Babies Bucks and Beds – the leading baby swim school in the UK

And The 2023 Finalists are:

• babyballet – Claire O’Connor, Harry O’Connor and Barbara Peters
• CYCLEme TOTS – Sarah and Chris Mollison
• Debate Mate – Scarlett McCabe and Margaret McCabe
• Pop Up Play Village – Becky and Dylan Hoare
• Soccer Stars Academy Franchise Ltd – Siobhan and Mark Molloy

Biggest Growth of the Year Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For someone who has increased their number of bookings hugely or has shown they have made huge growth in their business in the last year.

Sponsored by Little Starts Gift Cards

The Little Starts Gift Card is the UK’s leading gift card for baby, toddler and preschool classes.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• BilinguaSing – Eleanor Baker
• Bright Light Education UK LLP – Charlotte Badenoch
• CocoRio – Lea Henry and Corinna Bordoli
• Daisy First Aid – Jenni Dunman 
• Fun Fest Cheshire – Helen Wilson
• LullaBaby – Jo Coote

Non-Profit Business of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

A charity or social enterprise or non-profit business in the kids activities industry.

Sponsored by Tappy Toes

Multi Award-Winning dance, movement and sensory classes for babies and toddlers from 6 months to 5 years.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Debate Mate – Scarlett McCabe
• Parent Sanctuary CIC – Rachel Devereux
• River And Sea Sense Ltd – Debbie Turnbull
• Synergy Dance Outreach – Rachael Hurton
• Windmill Young Actors – Tanushka Marah

Start-up Business of the Year Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a business that is no more than three years old.

Sponsored by Daisy First Aid

Daisy First Aid believes that every children’s activity provider should have access to great quality, affordable paediatric first aid training.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Beyond Blocks – Andrew Hoang
• Chi Education – Nicholas Clement
• Little Laboratory – Janine Koenig
• MiniMe Mindfulness – Tessa Hawes
• Music Squad Limited – Hannah Donkin

Leader of the Year Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For someone who manages a team of people, whether that is someone who is head of a franchise or any business in the kids activities industry. This person must have been managing this same team for more than three years.

Sponsored by GKR Karate

GKR Karate UK was established in 1994 and is one of the largest martial arts organisations in the UK.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Caterpillar Music – Helen Simmons
• Fixation Academy of Performing Arts – Laura Davitt
• Kidslingo – Anna Neville
• Razzamataz Theatre School Newbury – Debbi Ledwith
• Synergy Dance Outreach – Rachael Hurton 

Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a person who has worked in the kids activities industry for more than five years.

Sponsored by Fun Fest Holiday Club

Fun Fest Holiday Clubs give children the freedom to choose and the power to play.  With a menu of different activities to choose from every morning and afternoon, children design their own individual holiday programme.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Anvesaka Yoga & Aerial – Amy Feighery
• babyballet – Claire O’Connor
• Bright Light Education UK LLP- Charlotte Badenoch
• MiniMe Mindfulness – Tessa Hawes
• Synergy Dance Outreach – Rachael Hurton

Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For someone under the age of 30 working in the kids activities industry.

Sponsored by Mess Around

Mess Around UK is the only provider of LARGE messy play in the UK. Our team of franchise leaders deliver events, children’s birthday parties and private bookings and we pride ourselves on providing high quality sessions and value for money.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Adore Dance London – Joe Watson
• CocoRio – Lea Henry
• Magical Tots – Amy Jane Eley
• Music Bus Glasgow South – Fiona Joice
• South Side Theatre Academy – Toby Ward-Smith

Supplier of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a business that supplies a children’s activity business any type of support or system. For example bookings, admin, insurance and training.

Sponsored by Dorset Tech

Chris has run kids coding clubs, robot combat clubs, martial arts academies and until recently had his own 1,600sqft STEM education centre. He heads up Dorset Tech, a social enterprise website and app development agency.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Cerys Keneally Ltd – Cerys Keneally
• Children’s Activity Business Academy – Kristine Monaghan
• Dance School Safeguarding Services – Victoria Race
• iflourish Limited – Frankie O’Brien
• Trustist – Nigel Apperley

Marketing Pop Star of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a person in the children’s activities industry who has shown they have excellent marketing presence.

Sponsored by Kristine Monaghan and the Children’s Activity Business Academy

Helping you to start, grow and scale your business. Book a free discovery call. 

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Active Totz (Oxfordshire) – Sophi Butler
• Bumblebee Beatz – Louise Judson
• diddi dance Sunderland – Dani Meighen
• Inventors & Makers – Laura Cross
• Music Monsters – Lauren Elliott

Community Business of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a business that supports their local community by organising events for them or raising money for local causes or being involved with local schools and businesses.

Sponsored by Cerys Keneally

Cerys Keneally helps children’s activity providers to get into schools and nurseries (without cold-calling) so you can grow your business with confidence, earn additional income and have a bigger impact on children’s lives.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Mula Cake Kids Club CIC – Pamela Hammond
• Plantasia Tropical Zoo – Anthony Williams
• River and Sea Sense Ltd – Debbie Turnbull
• Super Sparkle UK – Monika Johnson
• VoxFresh – Kat Penn

Franchisee of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For someone who has bought a franchise licence in the kids activities industry and made it a big success.

Sponsored by Morton Michel Insurance

Morton Michel has been working with and supporting the Children’s Activities sector for nearly fifty years so we fully understand the importance that children’s activity providers bring to a child’s learning and development.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• babyballet Dartford Bexley Bromley – Jessie Lilley
• Caterpillar Music Newark – Anna Coggan
• Fun Fest Cheshire – Helen Wilson
• Razzamataz Theatre School Newbury – Debbi Ledwith
• Soccer Stars Academy Aberdeen Ltd & Soccer Stars Academy Ayr Ltd – Laura Waters and Thomas Waters

Franchise of the Year with up to 15 franchisees – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a franchise with up to 15 franchisees that shows they have the whole package of a ready made business in the children’s activities industry that will excel. Only the creator/owner of the franchise can enter this category.

Sponsored by The Children’s Franchise Enterprise

The Children’s Franchise Enterprise supports businesses at any stage of their franchise journey and helps parents looking for a new direction to discover what franchising is all about.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Basking Babies – Carla Davison
• MiniMe Mindfulness – Tessa Hawes
• Mitchy Titch Yoga & Mindfulness – Avril O’Brien
• Music Monsters – Lauren Elliott
• Twinkleboost CIC – Hannah Broughton

Franchise of the Year with more than 15 franchisees – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a franchise with more than 15 franchisees that shows they have the whole package of a ready made business in the children’s activities industry that will excel. Only the creator/owner of the franchise can enter this category.

Sponsored by The Franchise Business School

Franchise Business School short cuts your franchise business growth and provides you with the support you need, whether you are just starting on the franchising road or have already got franchisees.

And the Finalists are:

• babyballet – Claire O’Connor
• ComputerXplorers – Stuart Harley
• Daisy First Aid – Jenni Dunman
• Fun Fest Holiday Club – Lynne Newman
• Kidslingo – Anna Neville
• Soccer Stars Academy Franchise Ltd – Siobhan Molloy

Independent Business of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

Not a franchise but an independent business that has made a fantastic kids club or activity for children to join.

Sponsored by The Dance Den

Sarah Gittins launched The Dance Den to help Dance, Theatre and studio School Owners like herself find balance in their life whilst running a successful school. A qualified mentor, entrepreneurial practice and management postgrad she has helped thousands of studio owners to scale their business.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Amanda’s Action Club – Amanda Frolich
• Beyond Blocks – Andrew Hoang
• Bright Light Education UK LLP- Charlotte Badenoch
• Inventors & Makers – Laura Cross
• Music Squad Limited – Hannah Donkin

Solo Star of the Year – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

For a person in the children’s activities industry that runs their business completely by themselves. For example no marketing, social media or admin support. You may have class helpers but they can have no input in the way you run your business.

Sponsored by Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

Jigsaw was established in 1995 with a desire to pass on the joy of performing arts.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Beyond Blocks – Andrew Hoang
• Chi Education – Nicholas Clement 
• Etiquette and Emotions – Sonya Moledina
• ExperiMENTAL Science – Lisa Davis
• Music Squad Limited – Hannah Donkin
• Topspin Monkeys – Andy Low

Lifetime Achievement Award – Club Hub Award Finalists 2023

A person who has worked in the kids activities industry for more than ten years who has made a big impact on hundreds of children’s lives.

Sponsored by Mitchy Titch Yoga

Avril O’Brien has taken her passion for yoga and created award winning sessions for children from birth to age 12.

And the 2023 Finalists are:

• Kidslingo – Anna Neville
• Little Dippers Ltd – Fiona Edwards
• Little Voices – Jane James
• River And Sea Sense Ltd – Debbie Turnbull
• Water Babies Bucks and Beds – Tamsin Brewis

The Club Hub Awards are the only national awards for activity providers with entry by application form only and the awards are independently judged by a panel of experts, most of whom are children’s activity professionals or specialists in their field. From the shortlisted finalists, our judges will select the winners for each of the individual award categories. The judges will select winners based on their commitment to excellence, innovation and growth of their business, as demonstrated through their business performance, achievements, brand values and passion for everything that they do.

Award winners will be announced at the Club Hub Event 2023, Saturday 13 May, Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. The event is designed to help kids activity providers to grow their business through insight and tips on social media, brand awareness, marketing, franchising, sales, customer service and everything involved in running a kids club. It’s a full-day event, including networking opportunities with 100s of people from the kids club sector from all over the UK. 

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Thank you for reading all about our Club Hub Award Finalists 2023. Applications for the 2024 Awards will open on the 1st of October 2023 and close on the 15th of January 2024.