THE Institute of Swimming has launched a Swimming Teachers' Academy with Impulse Leisure in a bid to increase its swimming teacher workforce and provide more opportunities for people in Essex to learn how to swim.

Impulse Leisure, a not-for-profit charitable leisure trust, is looking to train and recruit 12 new swimming teachers in order to expand its aquatic offering to the local community, at its locations at:

·       Impulse Leisure – Blackshots, Grays

·       Impulse Leisure – Belhus Park Golf & Country Club, South Ockendon

·       Impulse Leisure – Corringham

The Academy hopes to address the stark warning from the national governing body, Swim England, that more than half a million children in England are currently missing out on learning to swim due to staff shortages.

The Academy will offer local people the chance to retrain and embark on a career as a swimming teacher for just £85 - a fraction of the usual £1000 cost. There are no educational requirements for applying, nor do you have to be an 'expert' swimmer.

Being a swimming teacher offers flexible hours that might suit someone who is looking for additional income, students and those with caring responsibilities. The key hours of work are in the afternoon, the evening and at the weekend, and once fully qualified the hourly rate is between £14.46 per hour and £17.69 per hour.

 Karl Hayes, Managing Director at Impulse Leisure says: "We are passionate about delivering high-quality swimming lessons for our community, and through the recruitment academy we aim to find talented, passionate people who wish to embrace a career in swimming teaching.

 "It is our vision to be the swim school of choice for every adult wanting to learn how to swim, and every parent looking for fun, inspiring swimming lessons for their children; our swimming teachers are integral to us achieving this. We value our exceptionally high standards and want swimming teachers on board that share our vision.

"Swimming teaching can offer a very rewarding career, with flexible hours that can appeal to people looking for a good work/life balance, which may suit someone who hasn't considered it before, such as a student, a retired person, someone looking for a career change or someone wishing to supplement their finances.

"The recruitment academy seeks to offer the opportunity to become a swimming teacher on a part time or casual basis to enthusiastic, local people who can offer their time and commitment in exchange for this funded training, and contribute to the growth of our swim school, allowing us to offer more learn to swim opportunities to our community." 

Rebecca Cox, Managing Director, Institute of Swimming says: "Teaching swimming is a very rewarding career, with Swim England's data finding 96 per cent of UK swimming teachers love their job and love giving back to the community to support children in developing an essential life skill. Further data shows that more than half of swim teachers have previously held different careers, and they are even more likely to agree that being on poolside gives them happiness, fulfilment and a good work/life balance."

The Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for just £85 and takes them through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification, as well as 20 hours of voluntary pool-side work experience. The usual cost of these two courses is £1000. In addition to the training, applicants will also receive a one year membership to the Institute of Swimming and access to the online Introduction to Swimming Strokes - Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Anyone interested should complete an online form by the closing date, 30th June 2024.

To find out more or fill in the application form visit:

https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/swimming-teacher-recruitment-academy-thurrock-essex/