APPLICATIONS FOR THE CLUB HUB AWARDS 2024 ARE NOW OPEN!

The Club Hub Awards 2024 are the only national awards for children’s activity providers, with entry by application form only and no voting element. 

What is Club Hub?

Establised in 2016, Club Hub UK is the UK’s largest kids activities directory for ages 0-18 (now including antenatal and pregnancy classes). We promote children’s activity providers through targeted marketing, social media and collaboration. Our directory includes online and face to face classes, holiday camps, events, attractions and subscription boxes. We support children’s activity providers through a membership community, professional development opportunities and membership offers.

It’s free for parents and carers to use to search by location, age and interest and filter by day and cost, to find the perfect activities for their children. They will find all your contact details for further information and click through to the website or booking page of your choice

Who are the Club Hub Awards 2024 for?

You must be a Club Hub member to take part. The awards were established in 2019. They were set up to recognise and celebrate the amazing work of the children’s activities sector. The awards are offered across 16 categories, to reflect the diversity of the sector and the wide range of businesses that offer children’s activities, classes, clubs, events or services to support this sector.

Club Hub Awards 2024 Categories:

• Attraction or Venue of the Year (NEW for 2024) – this includes clubs who have their own premises, attractions, event companies, cafes, zoos and farms
• Biggest Growth of the Year – Club Hub members demonstrating huge business growth in the past year
• Community Champion of the Year – activity providers who support their local community through events, fundraising or volunteering.
• Entrepreneur of the Year- for those who have worked in the children’s activities industry for more than 3 years
• Family Business of the Year – 2 or more members from the same family running a children’s activity business
• Franchise of the Year with up to 15 franchisees – For the creator/owner of a franchise with up to 15 franchisees
• Franchise of the Year with more than 15 franchisees – For the creator/owner of a franchise with more than 15 franchisees
• Franchisee of the Year – who has bought a franchise license and made it a big success
• Independent Business of the Year – for independent activity providers 
• Leader of the Year – for a person who manages a team of people e.g. head of a franchise, head of marketing or any leader  role 
• Lifetime Achievement – for a person who has worked in the children’s activities industry for more than 10 years who has made a significant impact 
• Marketing Pop Star – for excellent marketing presence 
• Non-Profit Business of the Year – charities, social enterprises or non-profit businesses
• Solo Star of the Year – a person that runs their business completely by themselves
• Start-Up of the Year – businesses no more than 3 years old (in May 2024)
• Supplier of the Year – businesses that supply any type of support, service or system.

We advise checking the eligibility criteria for each category before making an application. 

How do I apply?

Entries are online and cost £10 +VAT per business. Candidates can enter as many categories as applicable, on one entry form (and one entry fee). 

The awards were piloted in 2019 with a nomination/voting system for shortlisting, but from 2020 onwards, they have been shortlisted and decided entirely by a judging panel. This means that all businesses have their application assessed by a panel of experts and can compete equally and fairly, regardless of the size of their following or customer base.

The judges are looking for strong evidence and examples to demonstrate why your business is the best in your chosen category. They follow a scoring system, which you will find on the award form to help you. There are also suggestions of what to include in your answers.

Our Club Hub Awards 2024 top tips:

• Read the criteria for each award and check your eligibility for the categories.
• You can apply for as many categories as you like on one application. Each award you select will open a text box to write an answer specifically for that award.
• Write your answers in a separate document first. SPELL CHECK and check your word count.
• Use the word count available.  You do not have to max it out, but others might, so if your answers are well below this, think about what you might be missing out.
• Write your answers assuming that the judges have not heard of you, or your business, before. They can only award marks for information given in the answer.
• Use examples to evidence your answers. Think about your biggest achievements, the impact your business has had, what makes you unique, what your future plans and goals are.
• Read the suggestions for ideas of things to consider including in your answers.
• SPELL CHECK again

What happens next?

When you apply we will send you confirmation and a digital candidate badge for you to shrew on your social media and website. We will tag you and include your logo on our candidate announcements on our social media channels too.

• Entries close at midnight on 15th January 2024
• Finalists will be announced on Facebook Live in the Kids Activity Providers on Club Hub UK Group on 18h March 2024 at 8pm
• Winners will be announced at the Club Hub Event 2024.

Club Hub Event 2024

The Club Hub Event 2024 will take place on Saturday 11th May 2024. 10am to 6pm at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham.

Tickets are £72 and can be booked online now. There will only be 150 tickets on general sale! 

The event is designed to help you grow your children’s activity business through a choice of workshops, guest speakers and lots of networking opportunities. The ticket price includes a hot buffet lunch, snacks and drinks.

The award ceremony takes place at the end of the day and there is an evening social event, which can also be booked. Finalists are expected to attend the event and take part in the award ceremony. All finalists are presented with a certificate by their award sponsor and professional photographs will be taken

What do people say about our event?

“What a brilliant event!! Club Hub is not just a platform, it’s an incredible community!” Lea, CocoRio

“Really enjoyed the Club Hub Event 2023. Great atmosphere and met lots of like minded people who share the same passion for providing high quality children’s activities. Highly recommended” Nicola, Jigsaw Arts

“We thoroughly enjoyed our first Club Hub UK event… Tessa and her team were the most amazing hosts before, during and after the event. Thank you for your outstanding hospitality at your amazing event. We look forward to next year!” Pamela, Mula Cake Kids Club CIC