On Saturday 11 May, around 200 children’s activity providers gathered at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham for the Club Hub Event 2024. The annual event brings together business owners from across the UK for a full day of personal and professional development, tailored to the sector.
12 workshops were offered, covering a range of business topics from finance, business strategy, inclusion, to hypnosis for success, including a workshop delivered by Book That In CEO Tim Freed on '5 Systems To Power Growth in Your Business'.
The keynote was delivered by Caprice Fox, speaker, educator, EDI trainer and facilitator. Caprice shared her experiences as a black queer mother and was joined by Ruth Butler from Representation Matters, for an engaging Q&A and fireside chat. This session was key to Club Hub’s commitment to raise awareness of anti-racist practice in the children’s activities sector.
The event closed with the Club Hub Awards ceremony. The Club Hub Awards are the only national awards for children’s activity providers with entry by application form only, no voting. The awards are independently judged by a panel of judges and finalists are shortlisted based on their commitment to excellence, innovation and growth of their business, demonstrated through their business performance, achievements, brand values and passion for what they do.
The awards are offered across 16 categories. 86 finalists were shortlisted from 315 applications, representing 165 Club Hub member businesses.
30% of this year's winners are Book That In clients - HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who won!
The following businesses picked up awards:
Start-Up Business of the Year: Nicholas Clement - Chi Education
Supplier of the Year: Kristine Monaghan - Children's Activity Business Academy
Leader of the Year: Corinna Bordoli and Léa Henry - CocoRio
Family Business of the Year: Lucy and Steve Fitzgerald - Cricket tots
Franchisee of the Year: Rachel Peebles -Estrellas Brillantes
Entrepreneur of the Year: James Cutting - Football Fun Factory
Non-Profit Business of the Year: Anni Rhodes-Steere - Head2Head Sensory Theatre
Franchise of the Year with more than 15 franchisees: Anna Neville - Kidslingo
Attraction/Venue of the Year: Plantasia Tropical Zoo
Independent Business of the Year: Emma Gardener and Lorna Eccleston - Story Rangers
Biggest Growth of the Year: Claire Munday - Tappy Toes
Franchise of the Year with up to 15 franchisees: Julie Barber - TechyTots Ltd
Marketing Pop Star: Carrie Ann Booth - The Science Booth
Lifetime Achievement: Julie Hetherington - TinyTalk SouthWest Birmingham & North Worcestershire
Solo Star of the Year: Fatema Zahra Meghjee - Tots Play Birmingham South Central
Community Champion of the Year: Catherine Blackmore - WestWay School of Performing Arts
Tessa Day, Founder and Director of Club Hub UK, says, “Huge Congratulations to our 16 2024 Club Hub Award Winners. It was so amazing to see you all on Saturday at the Club Hub Event and celebrate your achievements. Please take this opportunity to sit back and reflect on all your hard work. The children’s activities industry is an incredible sector to be part of.”