We’re bursting with pride here at babyballet as we share the news that our UK Managing Director, Lucy Crabtree, has been crowned Young Woman in Franchising (Under 30) of the Year at the 2025 NatWest EWIF Awards! The prestigious ceremony was held on Thursday 15th May at the NatWest Conference Centre in London, and Lucy’s name was proudly announced among the franchise industry’s most inspirational women. What a moment it was!

At just 29 years old, Lucy has already made an extraordinary impact on the babyballet® brand and the wider franchising industry. Her leadership, vision, and passion for supporting others are nothing short of inspiring and this national recognition in the EWiF Awards 2025 is a testament to her hard work and commitment.

When asked how she felt about being named Young Woman in Franchising 2025, Lucy responded,

“Incredibly surreal and I am still on cloud 9! I was already so proud to be named a finalist among so many inspiring women, so hearing my name called as the winner will be a moment I’ll never forget. For me, this achievement is a reminder that hard work and passion really do pay off – and that, more importantly, age should never be seen as a barrier to success.”

A Remarkable Journey  

Lucy’s journey with babyballet® began all the way back in 2011, when she joined the team as the “Saturday Girl.” Over the years, she climbed the ranks with incredible dedication, gaining experience as a dance teacher and later as Marketing Manager. In 2022, Lucy stepped into the role of UK Managing Director, and since then has been leading our UK business. She supports a network of 90 franchisees and our ever-growing UK Head Office team.  

With babyballet CEO and founder Claire O’Connor working tirelessly on the international growth of the brand, Lucy has confidently taken the reins of the UK operation, making key business decisions and driving change that has seen our organisation grow stronger than ever. 

What makes Lucy truly exceptional is not just her impressive achievements, but how she brings people with her every step of the way.

She oversaw the seamless transition of the babyballet marketing team in 2024, recruiting and mentoring two new team members and creating a supportive handover that ensured long-term success. She also guided our brilliant apprentice, Hannah, through to full-time employment. Hannah shared:

“Lucy’s support during my apprenticeship was invaluable. Her guidance and encouragement not only helped me develop confidence in my skills but also ensured I successfully completed my apprenticeship.”

Sparkle and Inspire

In another first, Lucy introduced our very first Sparkle Conferences. These unforgettable events were designed to inspire and empower our ever-increasing babyballet dance teacher community. The 2024 conference welcomed team members from across the country and featured motivational talks, practical CPD sessions, and even a very special appearance and salsa workshop from Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara.

One teacher summed it up perfectly:

“A truly magical and special day. I felt so welcomed by Claire and Lucy and all the other babyballet teachers. I’m delighted to have joined the babyballet family.”

This initiative not only united our network but amplified our brand reach to tens of thousands through social media and mainstream media exposure – even receiving praise on ITV’s Lorraine!

Celebrating an Inspiring Achievement

Claire O’Connor, CEO of babyballet, shared:

“I’m absolutely over the moon that Lucy has been recognised as EWIF’s Young Woman in Franchising. Her leadership and care for every part of babyballet shines through in everything she does. Although we’re a franchised brand, we’ve always been passionate about supporting each franchisee as a local business that’s deeply rooted in its own community. Lucy lives and breathes that ethos and this award is a true reflection of the positive impact she’s had on our network, our team and the thousands of children we teach every week. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Lucy’s win at the NatWest EWIF Awards celebrates not just her achievements, but the future of women in franchising. She’s a shining example of what’s possible with hard work, courage, and a sprinkle of babyballet magic!

When asked to reflect on how this award will impact her career, Lucy replied,

“This award is such a meaningful milestone for me personally, but also for babyballet® as a brand. It gives me greater confidence as a young leader in franchising and will hopefully inspire other young women to pursue their ambitions without hesitation. From a business perspective, it shines a light on the strength of our franchise model and our values-led approach. I hope it opens more doors for collaboration, growth, and continuing to champion women in business!”

Congratulations, Lucy – your babyballet® team is so proud of you!

Want to know more about franchising with our wonderful babyballet team? Send Kelly, our lovely Franchise Sales Lead, a message to start the conversation!