A ‘disruptive’ and ‘trailblazing’ franchisee, who runs children’s holiday clubs in
Cheshire, is celebrating national award success after an outstanding year of growth.
Having already been crowned ‘Disruptive Franchisee of the Year’ at the nationwide
Disruptive Franchise Awards in June, Fun Fest Cheshire is now a finalist in a further
two prestigious ceremonies.
‘Director of Fun’ Helen Wilson (41) faced the judging panel this month for the
‘Franchisee Trailblazer’ category of the 2024 British Franchise Awards. She is also a
‘Woman Franchisee of the Year 2024’ finalist in the NatWest EWiF Awards.
“Having been £75,000 ‘in the red’ post-pandemic, we are now on track to become a
£1.5m business by 2026 – operating on average 72 days a year,” said Helen (pictured), who lives in Weston.
“Thanks to the amazing support of the parents and schools we work with, we are the
biggest and fastest-growing Fun Fest franchisee in the country.
“I am proud that we have proven we can be successful by having more holiday clubs
without passing any of the startup costs on to parents, or compromising on the
quality of our staff or childcare.”
Fun Fest Cheshire currently provides activity choices to 4,000 children across
Cheshire West and Stockport all year round. The franchise has had a six-summer
residency at The Grange Junior School, Hartford and occupies five other venues –
including Hartford Manor Primary School and Cransley School, Great Budworth.
“We empower children to decide how they want to spend their holidays, as well as to
design their own programme – choosing from over 50 different active, creative and
adventurous activity sessions,” explained Helen, who was also a ‘Cheshire Woman
of the Year 2024’ nominee.
“Looking to the future, we have active plans to expand into our own local authority,
Cheshire East. We aim to open five more Ofsted-registered holiday clubs and
continue to grow our staff team of 60, who work flexible hours and benefit from free
childcare.”
Fun Fest Cheshire also won the Regional ‘Franchise Business Award’ at the FSB
North West Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024, as well as three accolades
from the Fun Fest Head Office – including ‘Franchisee of the Year’.
Helen, who operates her franchise together with her husband of seven years, Westly,
concluded: “We don’t do what we do for trophies. What motivates us is supporting
working parents to make school holidays special for their children, and providing safe
spaces for them to continue learning, making friends and having fun.
“It means a lot to know, however, that at a regional and national level, the passion
and ideas we bring to the franchise world is considered ‘disruptive’ and ‘trailblazing’.
“So, on behalf of myself, Westly and all our amazing team, I would like to thank the
Federation of Small Businesses, Franchise Business School and the British
Franchise Association for the recognition they have given us. It is appreciated and
we hope to continue to make waves for many more years to come.”
