On Wednesday 7th October, we brought our franchisees and head office teams together at Barnsdale Lodge Hotel in Rutland for DALROD’s annual conference. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate a record year of growth for the group and share updates from across the business.
With teams based across the country, our annual conference is an important date in the calendar. It gives us the chance to catch up with colleagues we don’t regularly see face to face, welcome newer members of the network, and celebrate the people who make DALROD what it is.
After breakfast on arrival, we got straight into business updates, with presentations from across the group covering our achievements and plans for the future.
Celebrating a Record Year
This year’s conference was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the record growth across the DAL Group.
The day began with talks from various departments discussing company growth, opportunities, systems developments, raising brand awareness, as well as health and safety and sustainability.
We were also joined by Tim and Jason from The Profit Engine, who delivered a session focused on franchising with opportunities for our franchisees to get involved.
The sessions throughout the morning gave everyone a chance to hear more about what’s happening across the business, share ideas, and understand how we’re continuing to develop and support our growing network.
Achieving a record year of growth is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it’s important that we continue to build on that momentum together.
Taking the Competition Outdoors
After a morning of presentations, it was time to get outside and put our competitive sides to the test.
Rutland Outdoors provided three activities designed to bring everyone together for a bit of friendly competition, teamwork and plenty of fun.
Attendees tried their hands at rifle shooting and archery, but it was the falconry experience that really stole the show.
Everyone had the opportunity to get up close with two owls and a Harris’s hawk, with all our attendees getting a chance to hold the birds themselves. It was a brilliant opportunity to see these incredible animals up close, and they certainly kept us entertained throughout the afternoon!
The activities were all a welcome change from day to day activities and gave everyone the chance to work together and try something new.
Bringing Teams Together
Following the afternoon’s activities, we enjoyed a meal together, giving everyone the chance to relax, catch up, and spend time with colleagues from across the network.
With our franchisees spread across the country, we don’t always get the opportunity to meet in person. Much of our communication happens over the phone or online, so having dedicated time to chat and exchange experiences in invaluable.
Our franchisees are at the heart of the DALROD group, and bringing everyone together helps us strengthen the relationships that make our network work so well. Celebrating successes together and learning from each other is key to continuing to build a strong, supportive team.
Recognising Achievements
The day concluded with our evening awards ceremony, presented by Dave Lane and Kim Lane.
Our awards are an opportunity to recognise the hard work, dedication and achievements of the people who continue to make a real difference across the business.
We’re delighted to congratulate this year’s winners:
- Engineer of the Year – Alexa Hunter
- High Achiever – DALROD Leicester
- Franchise of the Year – DALROD Luton
A huge congratulations to our winners! Their achievements reflect the commitment and effort that go into delivering great service, maintaining high standards, and helping drive the continued success of DALROD.
It’s always a pleasure to celebrate the people behind our business, and this year’s awards were a fitting way to round off the day.
“It’s been a fantastic year for DALROD, and our growth is a real reflection of the hard work and commitment of our teams across the network. Our annual conference is a great opportunity to celebrate those achievements, bring everyone together, and look ahead to another successful year” – Kim Lane, Director.
Looking Ahead
Our 2026 annual conference was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on a record year, share our plans for the future, and spend valuable time with colleagues from across the network. As we continue to grow, making sure we stay connected and recognise the hard work happening across our franchises is more important than ever.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed to the day, and helped make this year’s conference such a success. We’re looking forward to building on what we’ve achieved together and seeing what the next year brings.
Take a look through our photo gallery below for highlights from the DALROD Annual Conference 2026.
