This article was written by Katie Bullon of activ Marketing who attended and exhibited at Ideas Fest in 2024.

In 2024, activ Marketing exhibited at Ideas Fest, AKA Glastonbury for Business, bringing something a little different to the field: a rodeo bull.

We wanted to make a statement, to stand out, to start conversations about franchising in a way that felt fresh and engaging. And it worked. People weren’t just talking about activ; they were talking about franchising.

But what we didn’t expect was how much Ideas Fest would shape activ’s future.

When Katie Bullon was shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEA) last year, she decided to get involved with Ideas Fest, seeing it as an exciting opportunity to expand activ’s reach. And wow—how things have changed in under 12 months!

It was at this event that we realised something huge: franchising deserved a bigger stage.

In the UK, franchising is often confined to its own bubble, franchise expos, niche industry talks, separate from the wider business world. But here, surrounded by ambitious founders, scale-ups, and disruptive thinkers, we saw just how much franchising belonged in mainstream business conversations.

This was also the moment we knew activ needed to roll out the OMAF (Online Marketing Agency Franchise) model - a lighter touch and lower investment franchise model to support the growth of solo marketing consultants. And the impact to the business has been huge, with a 300% uplift in leads in just the first 3 months post-launch.

Ideas Fest wasn’t just about visibility, it was about strategy. It changed how we positioned activ, how we showed up, and how we championed franchising as an exciting, accessible route to business growth.

Since then, we’ve:

 ✅ Refined our franchise messaging for broader appeal
 ✅ Increased activ’s presence at mainstream business events
 ✅ Positioned franchising as an opportunity for entrepreneurs, not just franchise insiders

And this year? We will be in the field, taking it all in, reconnecting with last year’s connections, who have now become friends, and looking ahead to what’s next for activ and for franchising!

Because Ideas Fest isn’t just an event. It’s a catalyst. A place where ideas turn into action, where businesses find their next big leap, and where unexpected sparks change everything.

Watch The Ideas Fest 2024 Best Bits:

Ideas Fest really is THE place to be! 💡🎪