What an incredible day! Last week, I attended my very first Children’s Activities Association (CAA) IGNITE Conference – and what made it even more special was that it marked the CAA’s 10th Birthday!
For those who don’t know, the CAA is all about raising awareness and standards within the children’s activity sector. Over the past decade, they’ve worked tirelessly to support businesses with policies and procedures that ensure we’re meeting the needs of children in the right way – safely, effectively, and with heart. Whether you are an independent, a community group, an established franchise or anywhere inbetween, joining the CAA enables you to become part of the voice of the sector.
Being Part of the CAA Community
I’ve been a proud member of the CAA Membership Committee for the past year. All of the CAA committees are made up of volunteers from across the sector, which makes it such a brilliant opportunity to network, collaborate, and share ideas.
Over the last year, the IGNITE Conference has been a regular topic in our meetings, so finally getting to attend and experience it in person was amazing.
The Venue – Sky Studios, Isleworth
The event took place at the Sky Studios in Isleworth — think Minions, Spiderman, and Jurassic Park! It was an incredible setting that added a real buzz of excitement to the day.
We kicked things off with breakfast and networking, sponsored by the British Franchise Association (BFA), before CAA Chairman Mike Dodd officially opened the event in the Sky Cinema.
A Day Full of Inspiration
The first session I attended was a Mindfulness Workshop — a perfect start to reflect on tools and strategies to use when business gets tough. After that, there was time for more networking and the chance to meet a range of Experts covering topics like Inclusion, Marketing, Insurance, Safeguarding, HR, and Franchising.
One of the highlights? A fun session with event sponsor Teddy Mountain, where we got to stuff our own teddy!
Learning from the Best
Sky gave an insightful presentation about how children’s activity brands are using TV to build fame and drive growth — fascinating to see how accessible these opportunities are becoming. Later, they introduced us to AdSmart, an incredible and surprisingly affordable tool to get your business in front of millions of potential customers.
Takeaways and Reflections
From behavioural profiling to best practice discussions, the whole conference was interactive, engaging, and packed with practical takeaways to bring back into our businesses.
It was also such a great opportunity to network, meet new faces, and reconnect with familiar ones. One franchisor summed it up perfectly when they said to me:
“Running your own business can be lonely – but this event made me realise I’m not on my own. I’m part of something much bigger.”
I couldn’t agree more. The CAA IGNITE Conference was a celebration, a learning experience, and a reminder of the strength and passion within our sector. Here’s to another 10 years of raising standards, supporting each other, and creating amazing experiences for children everywhere.
Interested to know more about the CAA click here
