We’re proud to announce that not just one, but three of our head office babyballet® team have been shortlisted as finalists in the 2025 NatWest Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWiF) Awards for three different categories.  

Our babyballet® founder and CEO, Claire O’Connor is a finalist for Inspirational Woman in Franchising of the Year 2025, a prestigious category dedicated to celebrating exceptional individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements, leadership, and impact within the franchising industry and who inspired others through their passion to franchising in 2024.  

Claire spoke about what the recognition means to her: “I’m delighted to be a finalist in the EWIF awards. Franchising has allowed me a solid model to grow my brand, and the EWIF community has been a constant support along the way.

I’m very proud to be amongst such inspiring women who I admire and continue to learn from every day.”

Chantelle Gledhill is not your ordinary finance director – she combines her financial expertise with a deep passion for the brand’s mission and values, ensuring continued success and growth across all five our the babyballet companies forming our brand. Dedicated, resilient and driven, Chantelle’s impact during her eleven years in the team extends far beyond the balance sheet. It’s no surprise that she is a finalist for the prestigious category of Woman Franchise Employee of the Year 2025.  

Chantelle is delighted with her achievement, stating, “I am incredibly honoured to be nominated for the Woman Franchise Employee of the Year award. Being nominated for this award means so much to me, and I am deeply grateful to my amazing team, babyballet® leadership, and everyone who has supported me throughout my career to date.

Being part of babyballet® has given me countless opportunities to grow, lead, and make a difference – not just within the business, but to the lives of our babyballet® stars too. I am proud to represent the values of hard work, dedication, and collaboration, and to be part of a network that empowers women to thrive.

Thank you to babyballet® and everyone who has supported and believed in me.”

Since first joining the team back in 2011, Lucy Crabtree has forged an impressive career path at babyballet. Her experiences in dance teaching and later marketing management, contribute to her success as the UK Managing Director today – a position she has held since 2022. At only 29, Lucy runs the UK business supporting 90 franchisees and a 10 strong Head Office team. Lucy is a very deserving finalist in the Young Woman in Franchising (under 30) of the Year 2025 category.

Lucy commented, “I am incredibly proud to be a finalist in the EWIF ‘Young Woman in Franchising 2025’ award. Being recognised for my work at babyballet®, even before turning 30, reinforces my belief that with passion, dedication, and hard work, we can break boundaries and achieve remarkable things. I was lucky enough to win ‘Woman Franchise Employee of the Year’ and ‘Overall Woman in Franchising’ in 2022 which was an unforgettable moment in my career, so I am truly grateful to be back as a finalist.”

Claire, Lucy, and Chantelle play a vital role in shaping the continued success of babyballet through their visionary leadership, innovative thinking, and unwavering dedication. Each brings a unique set of skills and experiences that complement one another. From Claire’s inspiring entrepreneurial spirit, Lucy’s dynamic management and deep understanding of the brand, to Chantelle’s strategic financial oversight. Each woman contributes to the strength and growth of our business. Together, they exemplify the power of collaborative leadership, helping to guide babyballet into a bright and exciting future.

Helen Mansfield, organiser of the NatWest EWiF Awards, commented,

“We were thrilled with the number of entries this year, coming from all over the UK. This is a tough competition judged by experts in franchising. Being named a finalist is a significant achievement, with finalists selected for their business acumen, determination, creativity, and perseverance.”

The NatWest EWiF Award ceremony will take place on 15th May in London, where winners will be announced and celebrated. The event will bring together leaders from the franchising world to acknowledge the incredible contributions of women shaping the future of the industry.  

For more information about the NatWest EWiF Awards and to see the full list of finalists, visit ewif.org.

About the EWiF Awards

Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWiF) is an organisation dedicated to supporting women who are exploring, starting, and growing their businesses through franchising. EWiF aims to provide guidance, resources, and networking opportunities to empower women in the franchising industry. For more information, visit ewif.org