The Woman Franchisor of the Year 2026 award recognises exceptional leadership, innovation, and a commitment to empowering others through franchising. This year’s winner, Carla Davison of Basking Babies, has demonstrated all of these qualities and more, building a thriving franchise network while staying true to a mission centred on supporting women, families, and communities.
For Carla, franchising has never been solely about business growth. From the very beginning, her vision has been to create an environment where women feel valued, empowered, and confident in what they can achieve. Over the past year, she has continued to bring that vision to life through a series of initiatives designed to strengthen franchisee wellbeing and long-term success.
A Double Award Win Beyond Expectations
Winning Woman Franchisor of the Year was a moment Carla will never forget.
“It honestly felt surreal. To be recognised by EWiF, an organisation that champions women in franchising so passionately, was incredibly emotional and rewarding. Winning one award would have been amazing, but to receive both Woman Franchisor of the Year and Overall Woman of the Year was beyond anything I expected.”
For Carla, the recognition was about more than personal achievement.
“It felt like recognition not only for me personally, but for the incredible work our franchisees do every day supporting families across the UK.”
That sense of shared success is woven throughout the Basking Babies culture and reflects the collaborative approach that has helped the network flourish.
Leading with Purpose and Innovation
The judges were particularly impressed by Carla’s ability to combine strong commercial performance with genuine care for the people within her network.
Over the last year, she has introduced a number of initiatives that have strengthened franchisee engagement and development. Franchisees have been given a stronger voice in key business decisions, including the redevelopment of the network’s website booking system. Carla also established a Franchisee Advisory Council, ensuring franchisees play an active role in shaping the future direction of the business.
Innovation has remained a key focus, with pilot programmes introduced to diversify income streams and create additional opportunities for franchisees. At the same time, Carla has invested heavily in personal and professional development across the network, launching a peer-to-peer buddy system and providing specialist external growth support funded by head office.
Recognising that business success and wellbeing might not always go hand in hand, Carla appointed a dedicated Nurture and Wellbeing Manager, reinforcing her commitment to supporting franchisees both professionally and personally.
These efforts have helped create a franchise culture where people feel heard, supported, and empowered. Contributing to Basking Babies achieving 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction status, an achievement that reflects the strength of the network and the quality of its leadership.
Creating Opportunities for Women to Thrive
When asked what helped her stand out to the judges, Carla believes it was the strong sense of purpose that drives everything Basking Babies does.
“I believe our strong sense of purpose and community really helped us stand out. Basking Babies has always been about more than just business growth – it’s about creating meaningful support for parents and giving women the opportunity to build flexible, rewarding businesses around their families.”
That commitment to balancing commercial success with meaningful social impact has become a defining feature of the brand. By focusing on innovation, sustainable growth, and exceptional franchisee support, Carla has built a business that delivers value not only for its franchisees but also for the families and communities they serve.
Inspiring Confidence Across the Network
Winning the award has already had a positive impact on both Carla and her franchise network.
“Winning these awards gives us even greater credibility and visibility within the franchising industry, which is incredibly valuable as we continue to grow the Basking Babies network. It also provides a huge boost in confidence and motivation for both myself and our franchisees.”
Perhaps most importantly, Carla hopes the recognition will encourage more women to believe in their own potential.
“I hope it inspires more women to believe they can build successful businesses in a way that works for them and their families.”
Why You Should Apply for the 2027 Awards
Carla’s story demonstrates the power of combining purpose with ambition. Through strong leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to supporting others, she has built a franchise network that delivers real impact while achieving outstanding business success. The EWiF Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate those achievements, raise your profile, and gain recognition from industry experts. Whether you’re a franchisor, franchisee, supplier, or emerging leader, entering the 2027 EWiF Awards could be the opportunity that shines a spotlight on your journey, inspires others, and opens new doors for your business. If you’re making a difference, now is the time to share your story.
