Ali Beckman wins Woman Franchisor Employee of the Year at the EWIF Awards

May 20, 2013 - PRLog -- 20/05/2013

Ali Beckman wins Woman Franchisor Employee of the Year at the EWIF Awards

National swimming franchise, Puddle Ducks, is delighted to announce that Technical Director, Ali Beckman, has won Woman Franchisor Employee of the Year at the EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising) Awards.

As Puddle Ducks Technical Director, Ali is responsible for writing, reviewing and updating all 11 of Puddle Ducks teaching programmes. With every update, Ali ensures that teachers are enthusiastic, well-prepared, and understand the progressions behind them.  Ali has also totally transformed the teaching manuals, with fewer words and a huge increase in the use of photographs and videos, available through teacher logins on the website.

She has a team of Super Teachers working for her to maintain standards of teaching and offering teacher-training to well over 100 teachers.  In 2012 Ali trained 83 teachers in the various programmes, an increase of 45% on the previous year. She also manages a teacher discussion forum where she shares her latest ideas, asks for feedback, answers questions and even provides the odd technical quiz.

Ali said: I would like to thank my technical team who support me in my role and are worthy of an award themselves. Also a huge thank you to all Puddle Ducks teachers for making our lessons so amazing. Programme developments and new projects come from listening to our teachers so their feedback is vital to our progress. My focus is keeping customers, teachers and franchisees happy!”

Tracy Townend, Puddle Ducks co-founder commented: “Ali is a UK leading expert in swimming teaching, highly regarded within the industry. There isn’t a teacher or franchisee in the network that doesn’t think Ali is the most knowledgeable and passionate person they have ever met.  Most are totally in awe of her, yet find her approachable and helpful. ”

The 2013 EWIF awards were also successful for other member of the Puddle Ducks team.  Kerry Parr, Puddle Ducks franchisee for Chester, Wirral and Liverpool was a finalist in the Woman Franchisee of the Year category.  Puddle Ducks co-founders Tracy Townend & Jo Stone were also finalists for the Woman Franchisor of the Year award.

Louise Bruce, co-chair of EWIF and Managing Director of Big Red Box PR ‘”The theme for the 2013 EWIF Awards was ‘Inspiring Women’ and the women who stood before us today lived up to that name. Although under-represented in the UK franchise industry, the very reason EWIF exists, we definitely have more than our fair share of amazing women, who were rightfully recognised for their achievements here today.”

The fourth annual EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising) Awards, sponsored by NatWest, took place at RBS House London, in front of an audience of guests from across the UK franchise industry. EWIF is an organisation dedicated to encouraging women into franchising. Its members come from all areas within the franchising industry and include: Franchisors, Franchisees, Banks, Consultants, Accountants, Solicitors, Media Providers, Exhibition Organisers, as well as other associated businesses.

-ENDS-

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Andy McManus (Marketing & Brand Manager)

Puddle Ducks Franchising Limited

Email: andy.mcmanus@puddleducks.com

Telephone: 01477 535527

Website: www.puddleducks.com

About Puddle Ducks

Puddle Ducks was founded by Tracy Townend and Jo Stone, who first met at antenatal classes and soon realised they shared a love of swimming with their babies and a common desire to launch a business. After extensive research and training they opened their first Puddle Ducks class in 2002 and began franchising in 2007. They have now awarded over 40 territories across the UK.

Puddle Ducks offers swimming lessons from aquanatal classes to children 10 years of age, taught by carefully selected and highly trained, welcoming teachers who know how to get the very best out of every individual.

Both baby and pre-school and swim academy lessons also teach critical water-safety skills that have helped save the lives of several children. Please see our website for further information.

Note to editor: Please do not refer to Puddle Ducks or Puddle Ducks’ customers as ‘water babies’, as this is the name of our main competitor.

Image of Ali Beckman attached.

For further information about classes and franchise opportunities, please visit www.puddleducks.com

About EWIF

EWIF is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2008 that aims to encourage women to buy a franchise business, to franchise their existing business or to help existing franchise operations to attract more female franchisees.  

This the fourth year of the EWIF Awards which are sponsored by Nat West

To find out more about EWIF visit  www.ewif.org