Celebrating Independent Business Success at the Club Hub Awards 2026
There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing independent business owners recognised for the work they’ve poured themselves into.
Not just the polished version people see online. The real version.
The late nights.
The self-doubt.
The constant adapting.
The pressure of wearing every hat in the business while still trying to create something meaningful for the people you serve.
That’s why sponsoring the Independent Business of the Year category at the Club Hub Awards 2026 was such a special moment for me.
Because independent businesses are the heartbeat of this sector.
Club Hub Awards 2026 Raised the Bar Across the Industry
The standard this year was phenomenal.
The awards received 462 applications from 179 businesses across 16 categories, making it one of the biggest and most competitive years yet. What I particularly love about the Club Hub Awards is that winners are selected through a written judging process with no public voting involved. It means businesses are recognised for genuine impact, innovation, growth and excellence rather than popularity alone.
Being in the room reminded me exactly why recognition matters.
Sometimes as business owners we move so quickly onto the next goal that we forget to stop and acknowledge how far we’ve come. Awards create that moment of reflection. They give people permission to own their achievements and see the impact they’re making more clearly.
And in a sector where so many people are quietly doing incredible work behind the scenes, that visibility matters.
Celebrating the Winners of Independent Business of the Year
This year’s Independent Business of the Year award was sponsored by The Class Business Academy, to support class-based business owners across the UK in building profitable, sustainable businesses while celebrating excellence across the industry.
A huge congratulations to this year’s winners, Reece Elbourn and Chris Kelly from Lets Leap Sports Academy Ltd.
Their recognition reflects the incredible work happening within independent businesses across the children’s activities sector. Businesses like Lets Leap Sports Academy are creating meaningful experiences for children while building strong, community-driven companies with real impact.
Congratulations as well to every finalist and entrant who put themselves forward this year. The courage to share your story and your business journey deserves recognition in itself.
Why Visibility and Recognition Matter
Throughout the evening, there was such a strong sense of community in the room. Business owners cheering each other on. Conversations about growth, challenges, ideas and future plans. You could feel the shared understanding between people who genuinely know what it takes to build something from the ground up.
That’s the part I love most about this industry.
Yes, there’s ambition.
Yes, there’s growth.
Yes, there’s strategy.
But underneath all of that are people who genuinely care about the difference they make.
As someone who has spent years supporting class-based businesses through franchising, mentoring and strategic growth, I know how easy it can be to underestimate what you’ve built. Especially when you’re caught in the daily running of things.
But moments like these matter because they remind people that what they’re doing is significant.
Tessa Day, Founder and Director of Club Hub UK, said:
“Huge congratulations to all our Club Hub Award winners this year. It was fantastic to celebrate your achievements at the event and showcase the incredible work happening across the children’s activities sector. I look forward to following your business journeys in the future.”
A huge thank you to Club Hub UK and Tessa Day for continuing to create opportunities like this for the sector.
The children’s activities industry is filled with extraordinary people building businesses with purpose, creativity and impact.
And I truly believe we’re only just getting started.
