A COMPANY founded in Ilkley has been shortlisted in The Brian Smart Award for International Development 2017 category, for the British Franchise Association (bfa) HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards.

Water Babies – global provider of baby and toddler swimming lessons - was founded in Ilkley, in 2002, and now teaches almost 50,000 children to swim every week. With 58 franchisees, the company achieves a network turnover of more than £25m. Last year, Water Babies was chosen as the bfa’s Franchisor of the Year.

Running for nearly 30 years and established to celebrate franchisors across the UK, the bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards look to recognise the very best franchise businesses, highlighting in particular franchisors who offer excellent employee support, company culture, innovation and commitment to franchising ethics.

The Brian Smart Award for International Development 2017 focuses on franchisors that have used international expansion as a route for growth. Finalists such as Water Babies are either a UK master franchisee who successfully demonstrates the outstanding support and strategies their master franchisor have developed, or a UK franchisor who has demonstrated successful exporting of a brand internationally.

Paul Thompson, co-founder of Water Babies, said: “We are really delighted that Water Babies has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious bfa HSBC award. We genuinely feel that the bigger we get, the stronger we become, drawing on our global family’s energy. Everyone in the organisation plays a key part. Recognition by such a highly respected organisation, such as the bfa, not only endorses our business model and ethos, but also gives all our staff across the world a big, emotional boost!”

Pip Wilkins, CEO at the bfa said: “Looking through the entries made us very proud and humbled to be part of such a successful industry, and those who are just starting their franchising journeys can take inspiration from what these brands have achieved.”

Andrew Brattesani, UK Head of Franchise at HSBC, added: “This is the third year I have been involved in picking the finalists and it is one of the jobs I dread most during the year. Comparing excellence with excellence is never easy and I can honestly say the standard of entries we receive continues to amaze me.”