We have WON In the very first Trustist Reviews Awards, we have won “Best Franchisor Diamond Award 2021”
This award recognises the positive reviews of our business we have collected through Trustist, so thank you to our franchisees for leaving such positive reviews of being a diddi dance franchisee and to our customers for reviewing your local classes, it really does mean so much to us 
We are excited to announce, we have been shortlisted as a finalist for Franchise of the Year in the Club Hub Awards 2021 🏆
The Club Hub UK – Kids Activities Awards are the only national awards for activity providers with entry by application form only, no voting.
🌟 The awards are independently judged by a panel of expert judges, most of whom are children’s activity professionals or specialists in their field. They shortlisted the finalists and will select the winners for each of the individual award categories.
🌟 The judges will select winners 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 winners will be announced at the Club Hub Event on Saturday 18th September.
Wish us luck 🤞
We are ecstatic to celebrate TWO Franchise awards
The Best Franchise Award for continuous improvement in 2020, means so much to us, we are proud to have supported our franchisees in this unprecedented year and our second award fills us with pride that for the 7th year running, based on anonymous feedback from our Franchisees, we have received the 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award It means the world to us to know that they rate our franchise opportunity so highly and are satisfied with their decision to be part of our network 
Thank you so much to our diddi dance crew for your time, we really appreciate your feedback 
We are so proud to be on the Elite Franchise‘s list of UK’s TOP 100 Franchises 2021 🏆 🤩
This is our fourth year appearing in the top 100 and we are delighted to have maintained this in 2021 #EF100 💚💗💙⠀⠀
Thank you to all our franchisees for their continued hard work making our network such a success 🎉
If you would like to know more about joining our award-winning, family-friendly, supportive network, we would love to hear from you https://www.diddidance.com/franchise/ 💚💗💙
The winners of the National What’s On 4 Awards for the Children’s Activities Sector with Morton Michel were announced at a special awards ceremony last Friday. We are absolutely thrilled and proud to announce that our very own founder of diddi dance Anne-Marie Martin, was presented with the highest honour of The Lifetime Achievement Award.
What’s on 4 said “Anne-Marie’s devotion and passion for the industry is awe-inspiring and relentless. We can’t think of a better name to add to the Lifetime Achievement hall of fame for children’s activities.”
As with the other What’s On 4 awards, The Lifetime Achievement award isn’t voted for by customers which means that Anne-Marie’s achievements over nearly 17 years have been recognised by industry leaders as truly exceptional and worthy of bestowing this most prestigious award.
These pioneering awards were launched in 2007 to celebrate the UK’s best children’s clubs and classes, along with leaders, volunteers and party providers for children – as nominated and voted for by the experts – parents, carers and parents-to-be.
Over the last decade, the What’s On 4 Kids Awards have become established as the industry accolade with hundreds of exceptional businesses and individuals in the flourishing sector keen to be part of the action and be in with a chance to be revealed as a finalist or winner!
Anne-Marie said “I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have been recognised for my work with diddi dance, in receiving The Lifetime Achievement award from What’s On 4 and to join such prestigious previous winners of this award is indeed a privilege.”
Now in its 13th year, this National awards programme welcomes the return of headline sponsor Morton Michel and supporters STA and ClassBiz alongside ceremony hosts, NatWest. Parents and carers logged on to What’s On 4 Kids to cast a massive 80,000 nominations and votes to ensure that their ‘most-loved’ were in the running.
What’s On 4 Kids Managing Director, Sam Willoughby, concluded
‘Each and every year it’s a pleasure to welcome back so many activities, keen to be part of these National awards once again but it’s also so exciting to see the new nominees from this thriving sector being showcased for the first time. We know from parents’ testimonials how clubs, classes and individual leaders have such a positive impact on the lives of their children and it’s an honour therefore to publicly recognise and celebrate these activity providers in this way. Huge thank you to NatWest, Morton Michel and all our sponsors and supporters as well as the thousands of parent voters for being such a massive part of the What’s On 4 Kids Awards 2019’.
Previous winners of The Lifetime Achievement Award were Steve Franks (Water Babies) in 2017 and Kathy Doolan (Rhythm Time) in 2018.
diddi dance has received the results of its Franchise Satisfaction Survey conducted with Work Buzz. This is to ensure that we can continue to build upon the work we do with our franchise network and to improve the service we provide to our franchisees.
For the 6th year running, diddi dance is extremely proud to have been awarded the 5 Star Satisfaction Award from the survey, with an overall satisfaction score achieved of 85%.
Work Buzz describe the survey objective,
“to identify and understand how the franchise is performing through the eyes of its franchisees. This survey covers the critical areas of training and support, products and services, marketing, franchisee-franchisor relations, leadership and rewards.”
Just some of the feedback we received about our diddi dance franchise from our current franchisees includes:
“Always very supportive. Always available to help at any time.”
“The branding is incredible and the new marketing is very innovative.”
“A great support system.”
“An excellent leadership team.”
Top franchisors, based on the feedback, are then shortlisted for the Best Franchise Awards
To be part of our award-winning franchise network please get in touch today!
Our very own diddi dance Founder Anne-Marie Martin was yesterday awarded the highest accolade at the EWIF awards 2019 – Inspirational Woman Franchisor 2019, sponsored by Little Voices.
We are delighted to be celebrating this most prestigious of awards for Anne-Marie at diddi dance HQ.
Anne-Marie was awarded the title at the EWIF ceremony yesterday, due to a hugely successful year last year, both as a franchisor, for her brand and network, and personally. This included delivering talks at local women’s networking events, sharing her experiences at franchising events, and inspiring the next generation at local schools, advocating franchising at every opportunity.
Improvements to the franchisee training and ongoing support, has seen the network feeling more motivated and empowered with even more webinars, face-to-face meetings, and forums. As a result, based on franchisee satisfaction, the franchise has been awarded 5* status for five years in a row. Whilst overall turnover increased, right across the network.
We also give huge congratulations to our franchisee Charlotte Foxley who runs diddi dance North Essex and South Suffolk, for winning Woman Franchisee of the Year 2019, Sponsored by McDonalds.
Charlotte runs a team of six teachers who cover 20 classes a week and works with several nurseries and special needs schools delivering diddi dance. Charlotte’s business is the first diddi dance franchisee to complete the Para Dance Instructor qualification in July.
And a massive well done to Emily Norman who runs diddi dance Bristol, for making it as a finalist in her category of Young Woman in Franchising, a brilliant achievement.
We’re so proud of all of our diddi finalists and winners!
diddi dance are excited to say we have been nominated for two What’s On 4 Kids Awards 2019 in the following categories:
Most Loved Music, Dance or Performing Arts Activity – Franchisor or Independent Taught By 30+ Leaders
Most Loved Party Activity – with 40+ Leaders Overall
These awards celebrate the UK’s biggest brands in the world of kids’ activities, the nations most talented teachers and class leaders, the most amazing volunteers and best party people – as nominated and voted for by the experts – parents, carers and parents-to-be.
If you can spare a minute please vote for us then wish us luck for a win! 
Closing date for voting is 12 noon on 24th June 2019.
diddi dance Franchisee Andrea who runs diddi dance Reading & Wokingham recently became the 6th diddi dance franchise to be fully accredited by the Children’s Activity Association. To read all about her recent achievement just click here. 
Because of this success, we at diddi dance wanted to take the time to tell you all about Andrea and diddi dance Reading & Wokinham here!
How long have you been with diddi dance?
I launched my first class in January 2014 – so I’m now well into my sixth year.
What did you do before joining diddi dance?
After completing a degree in Sports Science, I started out working as a Lifestyle Consultant in a Health Club, where I also taught Exercise to Music classes. I then moved on to Leisure Centre, and finally, Sports Park management where I also completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Sports Management) by distance learning. After about a decade I fancied a change from operational work and took on the role of Account Manager at a specialist Sports/Fitness Public Relations agency. My clients here included Life Fitness, Leisure Connection, DC Leisure and Lifetime Training. I continued working at Promote PR until my second child was born in 2010.
Over the years I’ve participated in many different dance disciplines from Ballroom to Belly to Bollywood! My major interest, since the age of three, has been Highland dancing. Following my competitive career, the pinnacle of which was winning the English Championships, I began dancing professionally (on a part-time basis whilst studying). I was lucky enough to perform in cabaret at many top London hotels, with engagements further afield including tours of Japan, Sicily and Spain.
What do you love most about diddi dance and running your own business?
I believe that in order to make any business successful, you need to be passionate about your product or service – and dance is my passion. Quite simply – I love dancing and moving to music! I think dance is one of the best ways to keep fit, healthy and happy. As a child I used to spend hours dancing around my dining room to my dad’s records and I love that I now get to do this as my full-time job! I honestly believe that the role of diddi dance franchisee was made for me – as I get to combine my love of dance with the knowledge and experience of business management I’ve gained over the years. And it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to share my joy and enthusiasm for dancing with hundreds of young children and to help inspire them to get moving!
What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of diddi dance?
Whilst it’s been hard work, it’s also been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. I think it would be fair to say that diddi dance gave me back a real sense of purpose, self-worth, confidence and control – all things that I feel I lost somewhere along the line between being a full time employee and becoming a ‘stay at home’ mum.
It’s always amazing, and humbling, to witness how much of an impact you’ve had on your little students’ lives. I love seeing children blossom in class from shy little toddlers, clinging to mum; to confident young children – happy to show off their funky moves at the front of the class! And it’s always really special to hear parents telling you that their child has named their favourite cuddly toy after you; or doesn’t stop talking about diddi dance all week; or gallops their way down the aisle in Sainsbury’s; or pretends to be you – calling the register for their dolls; or makes their vegetables at tea time do the ‘Circle Dance’ around their plate! All these things are simply priceless.
What has been a highlight for you since taking on your diddi dance?
I think attending the launch event for the Reading Children’s Festival again last year and having so many previous and current diddi dancers and parents seek me out and tell me how much they love diddi dance, or how much their little one gets/got from the classes, or how great they think one of my teachers is – has to be a real highlight. Not least because it represents the huge journey I’ve taken… From the first time I attended the event (five years ago) – when I could barely get anyone to even take a flyer from me! But perseverance pays and year by year, as the company has grown, I’ve gone from being largely ignored that first year, to feeling like a bit of a minor celebrity five years down the line!
What is something you are looking forward to as you continue with your diddi dance franchise?
I really enjoy all aspects of running the business. I get a real buzz from the practical teaching side, but I also love the marketing, financial management, business planning, HR management, accounting and even the administration! I’ve got a very clear plan of what I want to achieve this year and what direction I want the business to go in, so I’m looking forward to working towards my goals and objectives and continuing to grow.
What do you enjoy most about your diddi dance?
It’s very hard to beat the magical feeling you get when you have a class full of toddlers all giggling at your silly antics and you know you’ve got them completely engaged and absorbed in the activity!
What do you enjoy most about being your own Boss?
I’m quite self-motivated and hard working so I really like the fact that “you get out what you put in” when you’re running your own business. I’ve been able to achieve a (fairly) healthy work/life balance and can work my hours around what’s best for my family. Having ultimate control over the growth of the business has been great and I love that I’ve had the opportunity to scale it up as my children have become a little more independent and my available work hours have increased.
What does the CAA accreditation mean to you?
I always set myself and my team the highest of standards, as I truly believe that “if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well!” I pride myself on the quality of service I provide my customers and, wherever possible, I try to exceed their expectations, so it means a lot to be awarded Gold accreditation from the CAA. With so many toddler classes around today, I believe it’s really important for parents to have the peace of mind that the activity they’ve chosen is setting the benchmark for quality control in all aspects of the business.
And finally, what is your favourite diddi dance theme and why?
For me, variety is the spice of life, so each time a new theme begins, it feels like my new favourite! (Having 16 different dance styles to work through is one of the things I love best about diddi dance.) But if I really have to choose one, I would go for the Jive – I love the full on energy and commitment required and the sheer joy that you can’t help feeling when you’re kicking and flicking! And the ‘Dinnertime’ track used for the Jive is toe-tappingly brilliant!
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