MORE THAN A JOB

Building a career in aquatics

As featured in the last issue of SwimNation, the Swimming Alliance’s Workforce Survey provided valuable insight into the experiences, motivations and challenges facing the aquatics workforce across the UK. The findings highlighted many of the positives people associate with working in aquatics - from making a difference to people’s lives and contributing to local communities, to flexibility and being part of a team. They also identified some of the challenges around recruitment and retention, including pay, limited career progression and not feeling valued. One of the priorities for the Swimming Alliance Workforce Task Force is therefore to better showcase the opportunities available within aquatics - and demonstrate that a first job poolside can be the beginning of a varied and rewarding career. SwimNation sat down with three people and asked them to share their experiences of working in the sector and the lessons they have learned along the way.

A CAREER THAT CHANGES LIVES

For Sola Alegbe, Lead Swimming Teacher, one of the most important lessons she has learned is that everyone learns differently.

For Sola, patience, empathy and encouragement are central to being a great swimming teacher - and the impact of the role goes far beyond teaching someone how to swim.

“My advice to anyone thinking about a career in leisure is to remember that you’re not just teaching a skill, you’re helping to change lives.”

Sola would also like to see more adults encouraged to learn to swim. Having once believed herself that she was too old and too afraid to learn, her own experience has given her a particularly powerful message for others: “It’s never too late.”

Making learning to swim fun and safe for people is very rewarding to me

FROM LIFEGUARD TO BUSINESS OWNER

For Chris Bateman, Managing Director and Lead Tutor at CB Training Services, a career in aquatics began when he became a lifeguard at just 16. Chris progressed from lifeguard to Duty Officer and then Leisure Centre Manager, before qualifying as an STA tutor and eventually establishing his own training business and swim school.

More than 20 years after first entering the leisure industry, Chris remains firmly rooted in aquatics. Today, he delivers training across swimming teaching, lifesaving, first aid, pool plant and a range of tutor qualifications - helping others to develop their own careers within the sector.

His journey has also come full circle. Having once taught young swimmers himself, Chris is now training the next generation of swimming teachers - including former pupil and para-swimmer Meghan Willis, who qualified as a swimming teacher in 2025 and subsequently joined his team.

For Chris, one thing has remained constant throughout his career: the reward that comes from helping others.

WHERE AQUATICS CAN TAKE YOU

David Springthorpe, UK Customer Engagement Lead for Lynxight, has followed a very different career path, combining his knowledge of swimming pool operations with technology.

Today, his role involves helping customers understand how swimming pool supervision technology works and how they can use it to support safety and gain greater insight into their operations.

There is never a dull day in leisure! Jump in and enjoy every minute. You’ll be amazed at the skills you learn, people you meet and memories you make

For David, one of the biggest lessons from his career has been the importance of a positive workplace culture, alongside the value of good role models and mentoring. Having benefited from mentors himself, he has also been keen to pass his own knowledge and experience on to the next generation.

His advice to those considering a career in leisure is also to be authentic, treat others with respect, be a team player and take pride in the facility and community they serve.

WHAT’S YOUR AQUATICS JOURNEY?

These are just three examples of the many different directions a career in aquatics can take.

From teaching and lifeguarding to management, training, technology and running a business, there are opportunities to learn, develop and build skills that can shape a career. Now, the Swimming Alliance Workforce Task Force wants to hear from more of the people who make aquatics what it is. Whether you started with a part-time poolside job and discovered a career, have progressed into a role you never expected, have spent decades working within aquatics, or simply love the difference you make every day, share your aquatics journey here: [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YBVWJD9](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YBVWJD9)