02-24 NEWS:SPN Master pages 14/7/09 12:15 Page 8
spnnews
BELOW: Martyn Hardy known
within the industry as a specialist
NEWS IN BRIEF
pool management consultant,
now with Water Babies
BADU makers
celebrate 100 years
Top German specialist company
Speck which produces circulation
pumps, counter-current devices
and backwashing filters under the
‘BADU’ brand name for the
European market has celebrated
its 100th anniversary. Since 2004,
under the management of
Hermann SPECK, the great-
Steve Franks (left), with Water Babies co-founders Jess grandson of the founder, the
and Paul Thompson whose roles have now moved to
company has been set up in
Corporate Communications Director and Chairman respectively
Neunkirchen am Sand. A total of
1,600 guests gathered in
Steve Franks leaves STA for Water Babies
Nuremberg to celebrate with the
Speck family and those close to
the company, which included
Steve Franks, who has been generally expanding the STA’s been a great year for us. We’ve guests from South Africa, America
instrumental in creating the client base in the UK and won two major national awards. and Australia.
British Standards for the internationally. Steve’s appointment will mean
management of swimming He will stay on as a consultant we continue to become more
businesses in the UK, is to take for STA. visible, and we’re excited about New swim coach
over at the helm of the UK’s Franks has always had strong the industry opportunities he programme
leading commercial baby views on the need for more brings with him.” Swimming coaches in England can
swimming company. swimming pools in the UK. Franks has also brought the now benefit from the latest phase
Franks takes over as the “There is just too much added expertise of Martyn in an ambitious new coaching
new Managing Director of demand and too little supply. Hardy, who joins Water Babies programme launched in
£10m turnover Water Babies One of my biggest concerns is as its National Facilities and conjunction with the ASA Talent
Ltd. He is to manage the that too much funding is being Training Manager. Hardy is Development team. The
operations of the company, absorbed by the 2012 Olympics known within the industry as a ‘Advanced Coaching Offer’ will
founded in 2002 by Jess and and it’s not clear where we will specialist pool management provide targeted support to up to
Paul Thompson. be in terms of widespread, high consultant, with more than 20 160 developing coaches across
The company, based in Devon quality facilities in three or four year’s local authority England over a four year period.
employs a core team of 11, and years time.” He says the experience. The programme offers a
its network teaches more than Government’s initiative on free Last year Water Babies saw a structured process of mentoring,
16,000 clients a week through swimming for the young and old turnover of more than £10m, support and development
29 owned franchises. It recently was worthy but ”encouraged with a projected £2m increase through access to the association
started in Dublin, where it saw people to swim more often by the end of 2009. As the Beacon centres and the ASA
its fastest start-up growth. rather than learn to swim.” franchisor, Water Babies Ltd Talent Development team. At no
Franks’ role as Operations Said Water Babies co- predicts a turnover of just cost to the coach or club, the
Director for the STA (Swimming founder Paul Thompson: “We under £1.4m with a net profit programme will provide coaches
Teachers’ Association) made him are now the world’s largest baby of 20%.” with the opportunity to shape
a significant personality in the swimming company yet we’ve their future in aquatic coaching
industry, creating new business been operating somewhat
WATER BABIES
with a programme of
opportunities with national under the radar of the rest of observation/analyses of coaching
pc www.waterbabies.co.uk
governing bodies of sport and the UK leisure industry. 2009 has sessions.
Scottish ‘free swimming scheme‘ abandoned
Happy with swimming
New research shows a high level
of satisfaction amongst people
Scotland’s part in the scheme year-round free access to “Many local authorities in taking part in swimming. Overall,
to prove free swimming for all council swimming pools. Scotland already provide free 79.1% of swimmers questioned by
under 16s has been A Scottish Government admission to public swimming the Sport England survey said
abandoned say critics. Labour spokeswoman said free pools for targeted groups, they were happy with their sport,
has accused the Scottish swimming remained an and we have clear ambitions a higher satisfaction level than
National Party of ditching a ambition. to go further.” those in football, hockey and
manifesto promise of free She said ministers had The SNP’s 2007 manifesto netball. Regular participants from
swimming at council pools. recently invested £1.2m to help promised children would be over 40 sports, including
Sports Minister Shona Scottish Swimming develop “given free, year-round access swimming, gave an overall
Robison had said it would be clubs and teaching. She added: to council swimming pools”. satisfaction rating for their sport
left to individual councils to “Local authorities are Labour’s sport spokesman, in the report. The participants
decide whether swimming responsible for around 90% of Frank McAveety, said: “We were asked to rate swimming
should be free. spending on sport in Scotland, need to give youngsters the across 10 areas – including
But now only two local and the Scottish Government is opportunity to take part in coaching, exertion and fitness,
authorities – Glasgow and providing councils with record sport, regardless of their officiating, facilities and value
Inverclyde – currently provide levels of funding. family’s income.“ for money.
8 swimming pool news AUGUST 09 Digital edition available at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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