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diddi dance are Finalists at 2017 EWIF Awards

April 11, 2017 by Rebecca

diddi dance are thrilled to have received 5 nominations at this years NatWest EWIF Awards.

Out of the 8 categories available to nominate women in, diddi dance submitted entrants for 5 of them and were thrilled to find out that they were shortlisted in all! When we asked diddi dance Franchisor Anne-Marie how she felt about the company and its franchisees receiving this amount of recognition she said:

We are so proud to have all of our nominations shortlisted in the EWIF awards. We heard this has been their highest number of entries to date so it shows that our nominations are of a really high standard and recognised as quality in the franchising industry”

Find out who got nominated for what and learn a bit more about each of them below…

diddi dance Founder, Anne-Marie, is a finalist for Woman Franchisor of the Year and when asked about her nomination she said:

Running a franchise network holds a lot of responsibility even with all the fantastic help I have from my colleagues. To have been shortlisted for this means so much personally as growing diddi dance from a single class to now has been such a journey and helping & supporting other women find a flexible work/life balance makes me proud of them all.”

Anne-Marie started diddi dance back in 2003, launched the first pilot franchises in 2006 and officially launched diddi dance Franchising in 2010. Now with over 40 franchisees run diddi dances from Aberdeenshire down to Plymouth her 1 dance class has grown to be a nationally recognised preschool activity everyone wants to send their toddlers along to. Anne-Marie previously won this award in 2015, so we are excited to see if magic happens again!

Rebecca, diddi dance’s Franchise Director, is a finalist for Woman Franchise Employee of the Year. She had this to say about her nomination:

It feels great to be recognised for all the hard work I put in behind the scenes at diddi dance. I really love and appreciate these awards because they reocgnise woman in a predominantly male driven sector. I can’t wait to see who takes home what!

Rebecca has been with diddi dance since 2011, starting off as a teacher for the company she moved into the franchising side of the company in 2012 as a Regional Franchise Manager before moving into the Franchise Director role in 2014. Now she helps to maintain the brand national image, supports the franchisees and continues to assist with the growth of the company. She previously won this award in 2015 for her work with diddi dance so we shall see if she can bring home the win again this year.

Emily, from diddi dance Bristol, is a finalist for Young Woman in Franchising of the Year. She had this to say about her nomination:

I feel honoured to be chosen as a finalist and never would have expected it! diddi dance is my dream job and I enjoy working hard to keep growing my business here in Bristol.”

Emily took on her franchise in 2014 at the age of 22 and since then has helped it grow to one of our more successful franchises at diddi dance. She has achieved her Bronze CAA accreditation, worked closely with local schools to provide PPA cover and been nominated & won multiple preschool activity awards during her just over 2 years running the business including the diddi Developer award at the 2016 diddi dance Conference. We hope we can add to the awards for you this year 😉

Charlotte, from diddi dance Colchester, Maldon, Halstead & Tendering, is a finalist for New Woman Franchisee of the Year. She had this to say about her nomination:

The past 18 months have been hard work but really fun with diddi dance and has gone way beyond my expectations of what it would be like owning and running a franchise.  It has been exciting times for me and I am delighted to have even been nominated for this award and to have reached the final! I have my brilliant diddi customers to thank and also fab teachers on board who make our team what it is and of course Head Office who are really supportive in every way.

Charlotte became a franchisee with us in 2015 and completed her first year with the highest ever turnover for a new franchisee who hadn’t taken over a already running franchise, which to us was a great feat in and of itself. She has since gone on to expand her territory multiple times, take on 5 teachers to help her run 15 classes and continues to look to the future all while helping to care for her family. She even won the diddi Debutante award at the 2016 diddi dance Conference. Can’t wait to see if she will win in her category!

Natalie & Dawn, from diddi dance Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield & North Walsall, are together a finalist for Woman Franchisee of the Year. They had this to say about their nomination:

It’s an absolute pleasure and very unbelievable that we have been nominated for this award.
It’s been such a joy and lots of hard work which doesn’t always seem like … work.
It’s so rewarding being part of a team that delivers such fun and quality sessions that encourage little ones to get moving.
We feel very lucky to work along side each other as mother and daughter, we have always had a fantastic relationship but we are even closer now sharing the same passions.”

Natalie & Dawn became our second diddi dance franchise partnership, but first mother/daughter partnership, in 2015 and since then have taken our franchising world by storm! They were a finalist for the mumandworking Franchisee of the Year award last year and won the diddi Driver award at the 2016 diddi dance Conference. They achieved so much within their first year just the two of them and continued that progress into their 2nd year we can’t wait to see how they continue to grow their franchise in years to come. Maybe this will be their first industry award!!!

To see all the nominees and awards just click here.

The winners will be announced on 16th May, 2017 so we will be keeping our fingers crossed for you two!

For more information about the EWIF Awards or to attend and see what it is all about for yourself just click here.

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Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Get children moving!, National News Tagged With: Featured

diddi dance Shortlisted in Top Franchise Awards 2017

April 4, 2017 by Rebecca

diddi dance Franchising has been shortlisted in The 2017 Workingmums.co.uk Top Franchise Awards for all 3 categories we were nominated for – the Supportive Franchisor Award, The Franchise Award for Innovation and the Family Friendly Franchise Award! The Awards, sponsored by HSBC and in partnership with Forward Ladies, recognise franchisors both big and small who have empowered women in business – not only by providing a successful flexible business model, but by giving franchisees the advice and support they need to succeed. For more information and to see who else has been shortlisted just click here.

We are thrilled to be nominated again as we were nominated for both the Supportive Franchisor Award and the Family Friendly Franchise Award last year, and we won the Family Friend Franchise Award!

When asked about the award nominations, franchisor Anne-Marie had this to say:

We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted in all 3 categories we entered. We work so hard to try and give our franchisees the flexibility, support and best ongoing training we can so for workingmums.co.uk to recognise that is such an honour. Giving others the opportunity to find a work/life balance is also important to us, it isn’t easy running a business but we hope with our supportive network we ease it slightly.”

Winners in all categories will be announced on 16th May 2017, so watch this space in May!

To be part of an already award winning dance franchise in 2016, hoping to continue that streak in 2017, get in touch today!

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Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, diddi dance, Franchising, National News Tagged With: Featured

Learn more about diddi dance

March 31, 2017 by Rebecca

Our franchisor, Anne-Marie, was recently interviewed for BizMums about what it takes to run a franchise and how a diddi dance franchise works.

See the video to learn how it started, why Anne-Marie franchised, what we look for in a franchisee and what motivates us.

Filed Under: diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Get children moving!, National News Tagged With: Featured

New diddi dance franchise – Wigan & Leigh!

November 3, 2016 by Rebecca

We here at diddi dance HO would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest franchisee, Rebecca, who will be running the new franchise – diddi dance Wigan & Leigh.

Rebecca’s first class in starting in November 2016 and will be:

  • From the 7th November – 9.45am to 10.30am every Monday at Tesco Extra Leigh Community Space. The Loom, Derby Street, Leigh WN7 4BA

To book your toddler onto any of the above classes fill in our Book a Free Trial form and address it to Rebecca, or you can email them directly by clicking here 🙂

A little bit more about Rebecca:

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family:

My name is Rebecca and I live in with my husband, daughter and son aged 5 and 3. I love to work with children and love anything creative and that can express and bring out little personalities.

What did you do before diddi dance?

Before I became a mum I studied dance and drama, since leaving college I have worked in the media Industry. When I had my children I took time out from work to be a stay at home mum. This gave my insight to the importance of early years education and social development as my daughter was a very shy child.

Why did you choose a diddi dance franchise?

diddi dance is the perfect option for me as its such a great way to get the under fives moving, socialising and learning invaluable skills in preparation for starting school. I love to help other mums how ever I can, us mums have to stick together.

What are you most excited about for your new business?

I am so excited to meet all the wonderful children and carers in the Wigan area, to see them each week and watch as they learn new skills and grow. I will be there to see the milestones of sharing and caring for others as well as having a jolly good time.

And finally, which diddi dance theme are you looking forward to the most and why?

I absolutely love the disco theme as I am such a throwback anything retro and I’m on board. However I am very excited about country dancing as it takes me back to my school days of country dancing at the spring and summer fairs.

Rebecca’s classes have started with our Ballroom theme so don’t forget to book your FREE trial today!

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Filed Under: Classes, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Free Trial, Get children moving!, Local News, National News Tagged With: Featured

diddi dance featured in Top Franchise Best Practice Report!

September 30, 2016 by Rebecca

Franchise Awards logo_RGB_winnerAfter winning the Family Friendly Franchise Award at the 2016 Workingmums.co.uk Top Franchise Awards diddi dance was contacted by Workingmums.co.uk to be featured in there new Best Practice Report.

Workingmums.co.uk’s Best Practice Report 2016 underlines how good family friendly working is not just about having the right policies in place, but about creating the right culture.

The report, which is based on detailed case studies of the winners of the 2016 Workingmums.co.uk Top Franchise Awards, identifies what makes a difference in family friendly working.

The awards celebrated the best family friendly franchisors and franchisees. Sponsored by Lawbite, they recognise franchisors both big and small who have empowered women in business – not only by providing a successful flexible business model, but by giving franchisees the advice and support they need to succeed.
To download the report for yourself just click here and find our feature from page 15.

To be part of our award winning franchise network get in touch today!

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Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, diddi dance, Franchising, Get children moving!, National News

diddi dance Has Great News Coverage

September 9, 2016 by Rebecca

This summer a lot of attention has come our way and we wanted to share our recent “fame” with you 😉

First, founder Anne-Marie had a spotlight feature in Nursery World about how diddi dance came to be, what our classes are all about and our CAA accreditation. To read the full feature click here.

Next came an interview in Toddle About magazine and on their website finding out from Anne-Marie where diddi dance came from, what kind of franchisees we are looking for and her helpful ideas for starting your own business. To see the interview click here!

Then Little London talked with Anne-Marie all about her business, diddi dance, including how she started it, being a working mum and what is in the pipeline for diddi dance. Read the interview here.

Lastly, Anne-Marie did a guest blog for KalliKids about how to get and keep children active. It talks about how diddi dance can help get children moving, but if you can’t make it to diddi dance how you can still get those healthy, exercise habits started at home! Read her blog here.

To learn more about diddi dance just click here!

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Filed Under: diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Free Trial, Get children moving!, National News Tagged With: Featured

diddi dance Receive 5 Star Satisfaction!

August 31, 2016 by Rebecca

For the past few years diddi dance has worked with Smith & Henderson to have a Franchise Satisfaction Survey delivered to our franchisees so we can obtain anonymous responses from our current franchisees to help improve our franchise network. Now, for the 3rd year running we have achieved a Satisfaction percentage in the 90s and have been awarded the 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award once again!

Smith & Henderson describe the survey process as:

We invite your existing franchisees to complete our confidential online Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark survey. We guarantee that franchisees’ responses will be anonymous, so they can provide honest feedback. On average 77% of franchisees complete the survey.

We use this feedback to help you benchmark your training and support against other franchisors, identify key priorities and over time, strengthen your relationships with franchisees and your support package.

Top franchisors, based on the feedback, are then shortlisted for the Best Franchise Awards – which we won last year!

This year we maintained our score of 95%. To see the full breakdown of our survey just click here.

To be part of our award winning and satisfactory franchise network get in touch today!

Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, National News Tagged With: Featured

Welcome a new franchisee to Leeds

August 12, 2016 by Rebecca

For those of you who may or may not know Leeds & Harrogate franchisee Cath Hale recently made the though decision to sell the Leeds part of her franchise. After putting the business up for sale a wonderful friend and previous diddi dance teacher came along to take it over, Julia Grantham!

Julia has taken over the management and direction of all classes and sessions running in the Leeds area and will be expanding further into the North and Central Leeds area in September and onwards.

Classes now run by Julia currently taking bookings for September are:

  • Tuesdays @ 10:00am, Horsforth St. Margaret’s Parish Hall
  • Thursdays @ 10:00am, Roundhay Parochial Hall
  • Fridays @ 1.30pm, Horsforth St. Margaret’s Parish Hall

Feel free to email Julia directly now via [email protected] to join any of the classes already running in the area or to express your interest in having a class open near you!

A little bit more about Julia:

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family:

Hi I’m Julia, mum of two young boys and I love music and dancing! I play the piano in my spare time, and have attended  various music and dance classes with my little ones ever since they were babies. I think I enjoyed it even more than they did if that’s possible! Tee hee!

What did you do before diddi dance?

I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home-mum for four years which is how I found out about diddi dance, and before that I was a nurse.

How were you affiliated with your new diddi dance franchise before taking it over?

I am taking over from Cath Hale, who taught both of my boys diddi dance classes. The chance came up to teach a class for her, which I did for one term before she decided to sell the Leeds part of her business to me!

What made you want to take on an already established diddi dance?

I knew the class, loved it, and felt that with an existing client base I couldn’t really go wrong. I know so many mums who have been to these classes, and everyone I have met in the diddi dance team are enthusiastic, friendly and supportive. Teaching diddi dance doesn’t feel like work. I get paid to dance and sing with little ones and nothing beats the smiles you see on their faces when you teach them. 🙂

And finally, what are you looking forward to the most with your new diddi dance franchise?

I’m excited to see and be able to develop the business and bring it to new places, venues and have my own flexible time-table. But mostly I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know a whole bunch of new children and seeing their progress and enjoyment of the classes. diddi dance is all about having fun being active; whilst dancing to some funky tunes. I can’t wait for September!!

For more information about current classes or to express your interest in a class opening near you please visit Julia’s Facebook page – diddi dance North  Central Leeds!

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Filed Under: Celebrate, Classes, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Free Trial, Get children moving!, Local News, National News

diddi dance Franchisees receive KalliKids Award Nomination

July 19, 2016 by Rebecca

KalliKids Awards NomineeWe at diddi dance are so excited to announce three of our franchisees have been shortlisted in the KalliKids Best Children’s Activities 2016 for Best Pre-School Dance Class!!!

The awards, which recognise the best children’s activities and services in the UK in 2016, were launched to highlight the best of the best in children’s activity & service providers and to recognise & award the cream of the accredited crop.

So we would like to congratulate:

  • Laura Sutton of diddi dance Brighton, Worthing & Surrounding
  • Caroline Steele of diddi dance Swindon, Cirencester, Chippenham, Tetbury & Surrounding
  • Joanna Oastler of diddi dance Eastbourne, Uckfield & Hastings

KalliKids believe in inspiring children to get active, learn something new and have fun with QUALITY children’s activity and service providers. That’s why we independently check each activity and service provider and take 3 parent reviews before we give them our tick of approval, and promote to KalliKids families across the UK.

Please help our ladies become finalists in their category, all you have to do is VOTE! Just click here to do so.

Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, Classes, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, Get children moving!, National News Tagged With: Featured

diddi dance Franchisees win at 2016 Conference

July 15, 2016 by Rebecca

This past weekend, 9 & 10 July, diddi dance held its annual Conference where all franchisees come together to network, share best practice and take part in workshops & listen to presentations to help them better their diddi dance business.

A highlight of the conference for founder Anne-Marie is the diddi dance Awards which recognise those franchisees that are excelling in certain aspects of the business. Both a winner and highly commended are given in each award and here they are:

Winners & HC 2

Anne-Marie commented on the awards:

We love doing our annual awards recognising those franchisees in our network that go above and beyond with their diddi dance. We find the motivation and inspiration our fun awards invokes is of great benefit to the all the franchisees and really helps them drive their business over the next year. We can’t wait to see who wins in 2017!

Now we are pleased to announce the 2016 winners are…

diddi dancer for the most enthusiastic and “en pointe” teacher as nominated by their   franchisee:

Winner – Lauren who teaches for Joanna from diddi dance Eastbourne, Uckfield & Hastings

diddi debutante for fastest growing franchise from a franchisee who launched in 2015 (based upon overall business growth):

Highly Commended – Natalie & Dawn from diddi dance Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield & Surrounding

Winner – Charlotte from diddi dance Colchester, Maldon, Halstead & Tendring

diddi developer for franchisee who has taken over a territory (through resale or transfer) and developed the business in all aspects:

Highly Commended – Anuschka from diddi dance Camden, Crouch End, Finchley & Surrounding

Winner – Emily from diddi dance Bristol

diddi diva for the biggest growth by a franchisee from June 2015 to May 2016:

Highly Commended – Andrea from diddi dance Reading & Wokingham

Winner – Gina from diddi dance West London

diddi discusser for franchisee fully utilising and actively using social media & online resources to their best ability:

Highly Commended – Lisa from diddi dance West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, Tadley & Marlow

Winner – Caroline from diddi dance Swindon, Cirencester, Chippenham, Tetbury & Surrounding

diddi driver for the most motivated and driven franchisee doing their best to drive and progress their business:

Highly Commended – Lousie from diddi dance South East Hampshire & Chichester

Winner – Natalie & Dawn from diddi dance Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield & Surrounding

diddi dude for the franchisee that is most supportive and active amongst the network – as voted for by the other franchisees:

Highly Commended – Emma from diddi dance Central Warrington & Central Cheshire and North Shropshire, Telford & North West Stoke-on-Trent

Winner – Mona from diddi dance London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

diddi doer for the most innovative marketer franchisee:

Highly Commended – Suzie from diddi dance Wirral

Winner – Nicola from diddi dance Lancaster, Preston & Kendal

And lastly our biggest award each year is diddi dame which goes to a franchisee who has made an outstanding contribution to diddi dance in the last year:

Winner – Joanna from diddi dance Eastbourne, Uckfield & Hastings

diddi dame 2Joanna, who was our first franchisees to receive her Gold Accreditation through us and the Children’s Activity Association, has been working very hard to make her diddi dance business thrive, especially this last year. You can read more about her by clicking here. When asked about being chosen for this award she responded:

I’m ridiculously proud to be named diddi dame this year, it is genuinely an honour. I love my job so much that it doesn’t feel like a job – it’s a joy!  Thank you to all our wonderful diddi’s who make what we do so rewarding and so much fun!

 

We couldn’t be more proud of our award winning franchisees. To book a place in one of their classes visit our FREE trial page today!

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Filed Under: Awards, Celebrate, diddi dance, Franchisees, Franchising, National News

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