At the weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Disruptive Franchise Awards, which this year were held in Manchester. This was my third year attending the event, my third year as a finalist, and what a memorable day it turned out to be.
This year I was shortlisted in two categories: Franchise of the Year and Lifestyle Franchise of the Year. Making the occasion even more special was seeing one of our wonderful Boogie Beat franchisees, Jodie from Gloucester, recognised as a finalist in the Inclusion Champion Award category.
Spending the day with Jodie was a real highlight. We enjoyed networking with fellow franchisors and franchisees, learning from industry experts, and celebrating the incredible achievements of businesses from across the franchising sector.
A Day Full of Inspiration
The awards were hosted by the fantastic Stacey Cann from Impact Franchising, who always brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the day.
The event began with an inspiring keynote from Ali Braid. Having spoken at the awards last year, Ali returned with a powerful message about discovering the person you want to become and proving it to yourself through small, consistent wins.
One of the messages that particularly resonated with me was the idea of changing our language from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this.”
As business owners and franchise leaders, there are always tasks that aren’t necessarily our favourites. Whether it’s submitting expenses, updating spreadsheets, or tackling admin, it can be easy to view these jobs as obligations. But the reality is that we have chosen this path. We get to run our own businesses. We get to make an impact. We get to create opportunities for others. That simple shift in mindset is incredibly powerful.
Using Technology to Create Time
Later in the morning, Tim Freed from Book That In joined us to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing business owners: time.
His session explored how artificial intelligence and automation can help streamline everyday tasks, freeing up valuable hours that can be spent growing our businesses, supporting our customers, or simply enjoying more time with our families.
As franchise owners, we are always looking for ways to work smarter rather than harder, so this was a particularly relevant and thought-provoking session.
Looking Ahead to the Future
Throughout the day, awards presentations were interspersed with networking opportunities and expert discussions.
One engaging panel discussion focused on the future of online selling, exploring how customer behaviour is evolving and what businesses can do to stay ahead.
We were then treated to a fantastic presentation from Nikki James, who spoke passionately about personal branding and the importance of being visible. Her message centred around creating demand by showing up consistently, sharing your expertise, and building trust with your audience.
Finally, Stacey Cann returned to discuss business growth, online marketing strategies, and how we can improve conversions to help our businesses thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Winning Lifestyle Franchise of the Year
The biggest moment of the day for me came when I was announced as the winner of the Lifestyle Franchise of the Year Award.
To say I was thrilled would be an understatement.
Winning an award is always special, but being recognised in a category that reflects something so important to me felt particularly meaningful. Creating a franchise that genuinely gives people flexibility, freedom, and a better work-life balance has always been at the heart of what we do at Boogie Beat.
Many of our franchisees have joined us after leaving careers in teaching, administration, or other demanding roles. They were searching for something that allowed them to earn an income while having greater control over their time and family life.
At Boogie Beat, our franchisees have the flexibility to choose where they teach, when they work, and how they grow their businesses. From Head Office, we provide comprehensive support, resources, marketing guidance, training, and ongoing mentoring to help them build successful businesses that fit around their lives.
For some, that flexibility means being able to do the school run every day. For others, it means taking family holidays without requesting permission, enjoying special days out, or having the freedom to spend quality time with loved ones.
Seeing our franchisees create successful businesses while enjoying the lifestyle they want is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
To have that recognised by an independent panel of judges was an incredible honour and one that I am immensely proud of.
More Than Just Awards
While winning an award was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, events like the Disruptive Franchise Awards are about so much more than trophies.
One of the things I love most about the franchising community is the friendships that develop along the way. We have built an incredibly supportive network of fellow franchisors and franchisees, and these events provide the perfect opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, celebrate successes, and make new connections.
I left Manchester feeling inspired, motivated, grateful, and incredibly proud of everything that the Boogie Beat family continues to achieve.
Could Boogie Beat Be Your Next Chapter?
If you’ve ever considered running your own business but worried about the risks of starting from scratch, franchising could be the perfect solution.
We currently have franchise opportunities available across the UK, with established systems, proven programmes, and extensive support already in place to help you succeed.
Whether you’re looking for a career change, greater flexibility, or a business that allows you to make a genuine difference in children’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.
Download our prospectus or get in touch to find out more about joining the Boogie Beat family by visiting our our franchise page