Local businesswomen, Jenna Wilson and Fay Smith, have just been crowned the UK’s New Woman Franchisor of the Year at the NatWest Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWiF) Awards. At a vibrant ceremony in London’s Bishopsgate on 16th May, the pair outshone the competition taking home the prestigious award. Judges commended Jenna and Fay’s contribution to both UK franchising as a whole and EWiF’s mission to encourage more women into business ownership.
Their Bristol-based business, Little Dreams Consulting, is a baby and child sleep consultancy which helps tired families across the country to ensure everyone gets a better night’s sleep. Jenna founded Little Dreams Consulting in 2016 whilst pregnant with her third child. A former solicitor, she is a passionate advocate for evidence-based, ethical solutions that transform the lives of modern families. Business partner and Mental Health Social Worker, Fay, joined the team in 2019. As pleas for help continued to flood in, Little Dreams Consulting was franchised in 2021 and now also has offices in Devon, Cornwall, Bath, Swindon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Birmingham.
“We’re still in shock that we won!” said Jenna. “This is one award that absolutely means the world to us. Because it not only recognises the success of our core business, but it tells us we’re doing a great job as a franchisor too – helping other women to follow in our footsteps as franchisees of Little Dreams Consulting. We put our heart and soul into supporting our network so that they too can change the lives of so many families struggling with the brutality of sleep deprivation,”
Throughout their successes, Jenna and Fay are also able to be ‘present’ mums to their children – something Fay says is a must. “Being a working mum, or a female business owner with a family, is hard work, but it’s doable and so rewarding. We’re passionate about empowering families throughout the country – whether that’s our clients or our franchisees, to get exactly what they want and need from life. Jenna and I were still able to attend almost all school events during the last year. Now that’s an achievement!”
Since its launch, Little Dreams Consulting has supported more than 1000 families and has only ever received 5-star Google reviews – over 100 of them! It is the UK’s first and only baby sleep consultancy accredited by the British Franchise Association is believed to be the only UK business that includes training from world-renowned sleep expert, Professor Michael Gradisa. As the EWiF judges noted, Little Dream Consulting’s practical, quality assured and outcome-focussed approach is revolutionising the sector and quite literally changing lives.
Helen Mansfield, Managing Director of EWiF said, “Our awards celebrate the many incredible achievements of women like Jenna and Fay and the role they play in UK franchising. Each year, hundreds of entries showcase the diversity, talent and innovation that drives businesses such as Little Dreams Consulting forward. They are very worthy winners!”
No stranger to awards success, Jenna and Fay will add this latest gong to some of the most prestigious accolades in business. For the last four consecutive years, Little Dreams Consulting took home the Corporate Livewire Wellness award whilst Little Dreams Franchise has held the title of Corporate Livewire Wellness Brand of the Year for the last two years. In 2022, the dynamic duo was also shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
If you need help for your family, or if you’re interested in running your own award-winning baby sleep consultancy, visit www.littledreamsconsulting.com.
