There was a real buzz in the air at the Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWiF) Awards in London on Thursday 15th May.

One of the standout moments of the day came when our client Karen Neil, founder of Cardea Healthcare, was named New Woman Franchisor of the Year 2025 –  and it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving winner.

The annual awards, hosted by NatWest, shine a light on the women driving real change in the UK franchising sector. Karen’s story stood out for all the right reasons.

Karen’s story

Karen launched Cardea Healthcare in 2017 with a heartfelt mission: to deliver care that’s truly compassionate, personalised, and people-first. Frustrated by the impersonal, profit-led approach she saw in parts of the care industry, she set out to do things differently. Thus building a service that places humanity and empathy at the centre of every interaction.

Franchising Cardea: A Values-Driven Expansion

In 2023, Karen took the leap into franchising the business. Moreover, was determined to grow the Cardea family without compromising on its core values. From the start, she’s focused on building relationships with franchisees who share her passion for meaningful care . As a result, that careful, values-led approach is already bearing fruit.

Speaking after the awards, Ashtons Franchise consultant Phil Mowat (who worked with Karen) said:

“I’m so pleased that Karen has been recognised for her amazing start at being a franchisor – she’s dedicated to her goal, persistent in her approach and knows what she’s looking for in an ideal franchise partner. Having a team in place to fully run the HQ business has allowed her time to dive head first into building a network of franchisees.”

Phil Mowat and Karen Neil at the EWiF Awards

This isn’t the first time one of our clients has been recognised by EWiF. In fact, Little Dreams Consulting took home the same award in 2023, and The Teepover Club in 2022. It’s inspiring to see so many women-led businesses being celebrated in our network.

Looking Ahead for Cardea Healthcare

Karen’s win is a well-earned recognition of her hard work, her heart-led leadership, and her unwavering belief in what care should be. We can’t wait to see where she and Cardea Healthcare go next.

Congratulations to all of the winners! Take a look at the EWiF website to see the full list.