babyballet® Franchise Conference 2025: Unique Journeys, Shared Sparkle
This August, we gathered together for our babyballet® Franchise Conference 2025, and what a truly magical event it was!
With the theme Unique, the conference was a celebration of the one-of-a-kind journeys that have shaped our franchise family over the past 20 years. From our very first school to our most recent, each story is as unique as the little stars who dance with us every week.
But while every franchisee, school, family and child is beautifully unique, one thing unites us all, the sparkle of the babyballet® mission and values. Together, we’re creating magical memories, helping little ones grow in confidence, and sprinkling joy across communities.
Inspiring Sessions and Workshops
The conference programme was carefully designed to give our franchisees both inspiration and practical tools to take their businesses forward. Across two days, attendees took part in:
✨ Personal Profiling & Emotional Intelligence – led by Rachel Haslam of Team Academy, this session encouraged self-awareness, wellbeing, and understanding individuality as a strength.
✨ Networking & Connection Workshops – exploring the unique value of being part of the babyballet® family and building meaningful support within our franchise community.
✨ The babyballet® Way – a deep dive with our founder Claire O’Connor into brand values, customer experience, early years enrichment, and what makes our programme truly magical.
✨ Keynote with Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association – sharing how every franchisee’s unique role contributes to the success of a global brand.
✨ Inspiring Franchisee Stories – including an emotional and powerful talk from Charlotte Martin, babyballet® Lanarkshire Central, who shared her unique journey with babyballet®.
✨ Panel: “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” – six franchisees shared personal stories of bravery and growth, from scaling up businesses to embracing new opportunities and community projects.
✨ Overcoming Limiting Beliefs & Unlocking Potential – Rachel Haslam returned to help franchisees identify barriers, set new goals, and map out their next steps.
✨ Action Learning & Future Focus – practical exercises, including writing a letter to their future selves, helped franchisees leave with concrete actions and accountability.
These sessions weren’t just about inspiration, they gave our franchisees:
Tools for personal and professional growth
Strategies to strengthen their businesses
Connections to like-minded peers and mentors
Confidence to keep delivering magical babyballet® experiences in their communities
The message was clear: look what we can do when we are together. Unique journeys, shared sparkle, shining brighter side by side.