As we reflect on another busy and rewarding year at Basking Babies, one thing feels clearer than ever: it truly takes a village. On Saturday 22nd November, our incredible family of franchisees came together for our annual conference, a day dedicated to connection, learning and celebrating the people who make such a difference to parents and little ones in their communities.
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Held at the Village Hotel in Watford, this year’s conference was a celebration of our growing network and the strong, supportive culture that sits at the heart of Basking Babies. Franchisees travelled from across the UK to spend time together, share experiences and recognise the achievements that have shaped the year.
The day struck a balance between personal and professional development. Laura Burchett, Basking Babies Nurture & Wellbeing Manager, led a powerful workshop on resilience, reminding us how important it is to strengthen our own foundations so we can continue to bring confidence, calm and positivity to the families we support. Later, Anne-Marie Martin, Founder of Diddi Dance, delivered an inspiring session on building confidence in creating video content for social media, sharing practical tools to help franchisees connect with and encourage even more families to discover their first Basking Babies class.
One of the most meaningful moments of the day was the Basking Babies Recognition Awards. Ahead of the conference, franchisees had nominated one another for the qualities they most admire, ensuring everyone was recognised for the unique ways they contribute to our community. We also celebrated outstanding achievements across the network: Carla May (Braintree, Coggeshall & Halstead) was named most successful franchise, Gemma George (Burnham, Hatfield, Peverel & Maldon) received the award for most loved by customers, and Lucy Harvey (Benfleet, Rayleigh & Rochford) was recognised as best team player.
Reflecting on her award, Carla May shared: “I’m really proud of our team this year. We’ve done incredibly well - we set out to achieve certain things and we’ve gone beyond that. It’s lovely to have the recognition, because there’s a huge amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen.”
Alongside celebrating the achievements of our franchisees, we were also delighted to share some exciting news as we close out the year. Basking Babies has secured a place in the 2026 Elite Franchise Top 100 (EF100), ranking 93rd among the UK’s leading franchise brands. As one of only a small number of early-years parent-and-baby franchises to feature on this prestigious list, this recognition is a reflection of the dedication, passion and drive across our entire network.
“Bringing our franchise family together at the conference is always such a special moment,” said our founder, Carla Davison. “It’s a chance to pause, connect and celebrate the incredible work our franchisees do within their local communities. Their dedication is exactly why Basking Babies continues to grow, and our EF100 ranking is a wonderful reflection of their passion and commitment.”
As the year draws to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for our franchisees, instructors and the families who welcome Basking Babies into their lives. Together, we’ve achieved so much, and we can’t wait to see what the next year brings.
